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Test Code ALC Ethanol, Serum/Plasma LAB46

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint The Finley Hospital

Test Method

Enzymatic Rate; Roche cobas Pro

Performance

Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.

Routine: Typically completed within 4 hours after the specimen arrives at the testing site.

STAT: Typically completed within 30 minutes after the specimen arrives at the testing site.

Specimen Requirement

Alcohol should not be used to swab the venipuncture site.

  1. Lithium heparin plasma (green) is the specimen of choice. 0.5mL
  2. Serum (red) or EDTA plasma (purple) is also acceptable.
  3. Specimens should be kept tightly capped before analysis. 
  4. Gel tubes are not acceptable.
  5. Ethanol blood specimens are stable for 2 days at 20-25°C, 2 weeks at 2-8°C, or 4 weeks at -15C.

Useful For

Ethyl alcohol determinations are among the most frequent analyses required in the forensic and clinical toxicology laboratory. Ethyl alcohol measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol intoxication and poisoning.

Reference Values

< 10 mg/dL

CPT Code Information

Insurances following Medicare rules: G0480

Other insurances:

80320 Alcohols

LOINC Code Information

35240-1 Ethanol [Mass Or Moles/Volume] In Serum Or Plasma