Using ethyl glucuronide in urine to detect light and heavy drinking in alcohol dependent outpatients.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

This study investigated which ethyl glucuronide immunoassay (EtG-I) cutoff best detects heavy versus light drinking over five days in alcohol dependent outpatients.

Methods

A total of 121 adults with alcohol use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders took part in an alcohol treatment study. Participants provided self-reported drinking data and urine samples three times per week for 16-weeks (total samples=2761). Agreement between low (100 ng/mL, 200 ng/mL), and moderate (500 ng/mL) EtG-I cutoffs and light (women ≤3 standard drinks, men ≤4 standard drinks) and heavy drinking (women >3, men >4 standard drinks) were calculated over one to five days.

Results

The 100 ng/mL cutoff detected >76% of light drinking for two days, and 66% at five days. The 100 ng/

SUBMITTER: McDonell MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4663163 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature