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Test Code LAB4086 ETHANOL (ALCOHOL)

Important Note

Do not use alcohol prep to cleanse skin prior to venipuncture. Use Zephiran, Merthiolate, or providone-iodine.

There is a very small chance (0.2%) that Isopropanol can cross react if alcohol pads were used at the time of collection.  With that being said, there is a disclaimer that will be attached to all Ethanol results that says:

“Isopropanol may cross react on the ethanol assay.  This may cause spurious elevation of the ethanol level.”

Specimen Type

Preferred Specimen: Lithium Heparin Plasma (Mint Green Top, Dark Green Top)

Alternative Specimen: Serum (SST, Gold, Corvac, Tiger, Red Top Tube)

Specimen Volume

1mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Turnaround Time

STAT: 1hour
Routine: 4 hours

Sample Stability

Room Temp: Stable for 2 days as long as the samples are tightly closed and the supernatant is removed from the cells
Refrigerated: Stable for 2 weeks as long as the samples are tightly closed and the supernatant is removed from the cells
Frozen: Stable for 4 weeks as long as the samples are tightly closed and the supernatant is removed from the cells

Reference Ranges

<0.01%

CPT Codes

82077

Clinical Information

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol or alcohol) is usually associated with beverages but can also be found in high concentrations in a variety of products such as mouthwashes, colognes, candies, and medicinal preparations. When ingested, it will permeate all tissues of the body within one hour. The liver metabolizes 95% of alcohol consumed. The rest is excreted unchanged. Alcohol intoxication can lead to birth defects, loss of alertness, stupor, coma, and death. Determination of ethyl alcohol concentration is commonly used for measuring legal impairment, investigating forensic evidence, diagnosing and/or treating alcohol dependency as well as detecting alcohol poisoning.