Sign in →

Test Code ALC Alcohol

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Plasma/Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

2 days

Refrigerated

2 weeks

Frozen

4 weeks

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Do not use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants at the site of venipuncture.

Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine may be used.

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Alcohol

All

All

<25 mg/dL

Critical Values

Not applicable 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Clinical Indications

  • Ethyl alcohol measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol intoxication and poisoning.
  • For medical treatment purposes only.
  • Not for employee fitness testing or other forms of testing requiring chain of custody.

Test Components

Alcohol
 

CPT Codes

80307

LOINC Codes

5643-2

Methodology

Enzymatic Method w/ Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Roche Diagnostics)

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol

Additional Information

  • Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
  • In very rare cases, gammopathy, in particular type IgM may cause unreliable result.
  • Do not use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants at the site of venipuncture. Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine may be used.

 

 

Concentration Possible Symptoms Observed
50 - 100 mg/dL Flushing, slowing of reflexes, imparied visual activity
> 100 mg/dL Depression of CNS
> 400 mg/dL Potentially Fatal

NOTE: Clinical consideration and professional judgement should be applied to the interpretation of any alcohol test results.

Last Review Date

5/6/2025

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL