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22173 Alcohol, Blood

Alcohol, Blood
Test Code: ALC
Synonyms/Keywords
Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, ETOH​
Useful For
Testing for alcohol is common in medical/legal cases concerning toxic or abused substances.  Alcohol can be lethal by itself or can contribute to accidents of all types. Measurements obtained are used in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol intoxication and poisoning.
 
For legal use, a separate gas chromatography method for ethanol and other volatiles is performed in the Toxicology Laboratory.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No Plasma​/Serum ​Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator Tube (PST), Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top (RTT)
Gray Top (GYTT)​

 0.5 mL​ 0.2 mL​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions
DO NOT use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants while collecting the specimen.
Body fluids with serum-like matrices may also be analyzed, but have no pre-defined reference ranges.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Full, capped, spun Serum/Plasma​ Refrigerate​ 10 days​
Aliquoted, capped Serum/Plasma​ Refrigerate​ 3 days​
Large volume (>=2.5 mL) aliquoted uncapped Serum/Plasma​ Ambient​ 12 hours​
Small volume (<=0.5 mL) aliquoted uncapped Serum/Plasma​ Ambient​ 2 hours​
​Serum/Plasma ​Frozen ​30 days
Interference
  ​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Flambeau Hospital ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less tha 2 hours ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ ETOH+ Emit*II Plus, Enzymatic Fixed Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites None Detected​
​ See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82077 ​ ​1 ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, ETOH​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​Alcohol, Blood
​Cerner ​Ethanol Level Blood
​COM ​Alcohol - Blood
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No Plasma​/Serum ​Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator Tube (PST), Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top (RTT)
Gray Top (GYTT)​

 0.5 mL​ 0.2 mL​ ​
Collection Processing
DO NOT use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants while collecting the specimen.
Body fluids with serum-like matrices may also be analyzed, but have no pre-defined reference ranges.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Full, capped, spun Serum/Plasma​ Refrigerate​ 10 days​
Aliquoted, capped Serum/Plasma​ Refrigerate​ 3 days​
Large volume (>=2.5 mL) aliquoted uncapped Serum/Plasma​ Ambient​ 12 hours​
Small volume (<=0.5 mL) aliquoted uncapped Serum/Plasma​ Ambient​ 2 hours​
​Serum/Plasma ​Frozen ​30 days
Interference
  ​
Useful For
Testing for alcohol is common in medical/legal cases concerning toxic or abused substances.  Alcohol can be lethal by itself or can contribute to accidents of all types. Measurements obtained are used in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol intoxication and poisoning.
 
For legal use, a separate gas chromatography method for ethanol and other volatiles is performed in the Toxicology Laboratory.
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites None Detected​
​ See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Flambeau Hospital ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less tha 2 hours ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​​ ​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ ETOH+ Emit*II Plus, Enzymatic Fixed Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Enzyme Reaction/Siemens Dimension
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82077 ​ ​1 ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.