Chromatographic methods for blood alcohol determination.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Chemistry
• Forensic Toxicology

Background:

• Blood alcohol determination is crucial for clinical and forensic applications.
• Understanding ethanol metabolism and toxicology is essential for interpreting results.
• Accurate blood sampling and storage are critical for reliable analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review various chromatographic strategies for blood alcohol determination.
• To discuss the application of gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• To present methods for analyzing ethanol metabolites and markers of chronic alcohol abuse.

Main Methods:

• Focus on gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• Briefly covers chemical and enzymic methods.
• Includes discussion of experimental techniques like enzymic reactors and catalytic electrodes.

Main Results:

• Detailed comparison of different chromatographic and non-chromatographic techniques for blood alcohol analysis.
• Information on methods for determining acetaldehyde and markers of chronic alcohol abuse (e.g., acetaldehyde-protein adducts, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin).
• Discussion on the rational selection of analytical strategies based on updated knowledge of ethanol metabolism and toxicology.

Conclusions:

• Chromatographic methods, particularly GC and HPLC, are central to accurate blood alcohol determination.
• Analysis of ethanol metabolites and abuse markers offers further insights into alcohol-related conditions.
• Proper methodology, including sampling and storage, is vital for reliable clinical and forensic results.