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A comparison of a microdiffusion method for ethanol and the Abbott TDx ethanol assay
L Serrano1, B Capshaw, F Quattrocchi
1Wuesthoff Hospital Laboratory, Rockledge, Florida 32955.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|November 1, 1988
Summary
A new ethanol screening test using microdiffusion is reliable for detecting reducing volatiles in urine. This method shows high agreement with enzymatic procedures, making it suitable for initial screening.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Analytical Toxicology
Background:
- Ethanol screening is crucial in clinical toxicology.
- Accurate and rapid methods are needed for detecting ethanol in biological samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a simple, rapid ethanol screening test using microdiffusion.
- To compare its performance against an established enzymatic procedure (Abbott TDx).
Main Methods:
- A microdiffusion technique (Analytical Systems, Marion Laboratories) was used for ethanol screening.
- Results were compared with an enzymatic procedure (Abbott TDx).
Main Results:
- The microdiffusion method demonstrated agreement with the enzymatic procedure in 484 of 488 biological specimens.
- Discrepancies were observed in 4 specimens, with insufficient sample for further investigation.
- The method proved dependable and reproducible for screening urine for reducing volatiles.
Conclusions:
- The microdiffusion ethanol screen is a dependable and reproducible method for urine analysis.
- It is well-suited for screening negative specimens prior to quantitative analysis.
- Further data is needed to assess its effectiveness in serum or whole blood.