Sign in →

Test Code N.ALCOHOL ALCOHOL, ETHANOL (ETOH)

Important Note

Do NOT use alcohol prep to cleanse skin prior to venipuncture.

Additional Codes

ALC.1

Methodology

Automated Chemistry Analyzer (ALINITY)

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Serum or Plasma
Container/Tube: SST or Lithium Heparin
Specimen Volume: 1 mL (minimum 0.5)
Collection Instructions: 

  1. Allow specimen to clot completely if a serum tube (SST) was used.
  2. Separate serum (SST) or plasma (Lithium Heparin) from cells within 24 hours and transport refrigerated. If red top tube is collected, separate serum from cells within 2 hours and place in separate plastic tube.
  3. Properly label tube with patient's name, DOB, requisition number and type of tube, i.e. LiHep or NaHep etc.

Specimen Transport/Stability

Refrigerated: 6 months

Specimen Rejection

1. Exceeding stability requirements

2. Unlabeled specimen

Maximum Laboratory Time

24 - 48 hours

Reference Ranges

Blood Alcohol      

0 - 10 mg/dL

 

***RESULTS SHOULD BE USED FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES ONLY***

The ETOH method is linear from 10 mg/dL to 480 mg/dL. Results reported over linearity have been diluted for verification.

To obtain results in percent with 3 decimal places, divide results in mg/dL by 1000 (e.g. 76 mg/dL = 0.076%)

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82077