PEth alcohol testing is a blood test used to detect the presence of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in a person’s blood to determine if they have consumed alcohol. It is a reliable and accurate method of determining alcohol consumption in individuals, which makes it an important tool for family law proceedings. The test can be used to provide evidence of abstinence or low, social or excessive alcohol consumption within the approximate four-week period prior to collection of the sample.
How does PEth testing work?
PEth requires ethanol for its production and is formed on the surface of red blood cells when the alcohol reacts with phosphatidylcholine (a substance found in the cell membrane). The more a person drinks alcohol, the more PEth will be formed in the blood. PEth testing can therefore provide an overview of a donor’s history of alcohol consumption in the approximate four week period prior to testing. It is the only blood alcohol test that can be used to determine previous chronic, moderate or low alcohol consumption, or abstinence. Regular, repeated PEth blood testing can be useful in detecting prolonged or heavy ‘binge’ drinking patterns.
How effective is PEth testing?
Because PEth is only formed in the presence of ethanol, it is a reliable test method for determining alcohol use. This also means that it has a high sensitivity due to its direct relationship to alcohol consumption. Unlike other indirect alcohol markers that can be found in blood, PEth is also reliable because it is not affected by medications and health problems.
At Cellmark, we recommend combining a PEth test with other alcohol biomarkers to help provide clients with a better overall picture of alcohol use over time. In our expert opinion, blood tests are unable to provide a definitive assessment of alcohol use and we recommend that, where possible, they are not used in isolation.
What happens at an appointment for a PEth alcohol test?
Our phlebotomy trained sample collectors will first confirm the identity of the donor before collecting a blood sample. The entire collection process follows strict chain of custody protocols.
We can arrange a sampling appointment for your or your client(s) with one of our professional mobile samplers at a location and time that is convenient. We will issue your report within 5-7 working days of the receipt of your sample at our laboratory.
How are PEth alcohol results reported?
It is not possible to directly quantify the number of drinks consumed from a PEth alcohol test as you need to consider the BMI of the person being tested and the frequency of alcohol consumption. For example, ten drinks consumed in one episode will produce a higher PEth level than if ten drinks were consumed over five episodes. The most accurate overview of a person’s alcohol use can be obtained when a PEth blood test is combined with other alcohol biomarkers such as a hair alcohol test, EtG and EtPa.
Court approved Peth testing for Family Law from Cellmark
In cases where the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people is paramount, PEth blood alcohol testing provides a rich source of information, enabling family law professionals and authorities to make important welfare decisions.
Our nationwide network of professional sample collectors are trained to collect a variety of samples under chain of custody, including blood samples for alcohol testing, and our test results are accepted by Family Courts, the Ministry of Justice and the Child Maintenance Service.
For expert advice please call our friendly Customer Services team on 0800 036 2522 or email info@cellmark.co.uk where a member of our team will respond to your enquiry.