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Test Code ALCX Ethanol, Chain of Custody, Blood

Useful For

Detection of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) in blood to document prior consumption or administration of ethanol

 

Quantification of the concentration of ethanol in blood correlates directly with degree of intoxication

 

All testing is performed under strict chain of custody

 

Chain of custody is required whenever the results of testing could be used in a court of law. Its purpose is to protect the rights of the individual contributing the specimen by demonstrating that it was always under the control of personnel involved with testing the specimen; this control implies that the opportunity for specimen tampering would be limited.

 

This test is not intended for use in employment-related testing.

Additional Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
COCH Chain of Custody Processing No Yes

Reporting Name

Ethanol, CoC, B

Specimen Type

Whole Blood NaFl-KOx


Specimen Required


Supplies: Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282)

Container/Tube: Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282) containing the specimen container seals and documentation required.

Preferred: Gray top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride)

Acceptable: Lavender (EDTA) or green top (sodium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use an alternative, such as Betadine, to cleanse arm before collecting any specimen for volatile testing.

2. Specimen must be sent in original tube. Collect specimen, seal, and submit with the associated documentation to satisfy the legal requirements for chain-of-custody testing.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL or amount to fill 1 tube

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole Blood NaFl-KOx Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  28 days
  Ambient  24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

Not detected (Positive results are quantified.)

Limit of detection: 10 mg/dL (0.01 g/dL)

Legal limit of intoxication is 80 mg/dL (0.08 g/dL).

Toxic concentration is dependent upon individual usage history.

Potentially lethal concentration: ≥400 mg/dL (0.4 g/dL)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

80320

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
ALCX Ethanol, CoC, B 56478-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
36127 Ethanol, B 56478-1
36161 Chain of Custody 77202-0

Forms

1. Chain of Custody Request is included in the Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282).

2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.

Specimen Retention Time

2 weeks