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Test Code ETOH ETHANOL ALCOHOL LEVEL, BLOOD

Additional Codes

LAB46

Performing Laboratory

Porter Hospital Laboratory

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube: Tiger top, serum gel
Also Acceptable: Green top (Lithium Heparin)
Specimen Volume: Full tube, submit 4.0 mL serum
Specimen Minimum Volume: 2.0 mL
Collection Instructions:

  1. Send specimen in original tube.
  2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, centrifuge tube.
  3. Stable 7 days refrigerated (sealed container).  Sample must be tightly sealed, DO NOT remove tube top.

NOTE: Do NOT use  an alcohol prep to cleanse the skin prior to venipuncture - use betadine. Sample must be tightly sealed.  Do NOT remove tube top.

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority / Turn Around Time

Daily / 24 hours / Available STAT / Routine - 4 hours

                                                             STAT - 60 minutes

Special Instructions

Medical Serum/Plasma Alcohol test reported in mg/dL. Example of unit conversion from mg/dL to percentage: 80 mg/dL is equivalent to 0.08 %

Normal Reference Values

A result of <10 mg/dL is equivalent to NONE DETECTED.

Critical Values

None 

Test Classification and CPT Coding

80277

Additional Information

Process immediately to minimize the loss of alcohol due to evaporation.