A COMPARISON BETWEEN 2 COMMERCIAL METHODS FOR DETERMINING CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN (CDT)

The performance of CDTect (Kabi-Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and two ve rsions of AXIS % CDT (AXIS Biochemicals, Oslo, Norway) for determining carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) was examined in 502 consecut ive patients admitted to the Department of Medicine, Aker University H ospital. The sensitivity for detecting an alcohol consumption greater than or equal to 50 g/day for the last 4 weeks was 69% for CDTect, 65% for AXIS % CDT, version 1 (AX CDT 1) and 50% for AXIS % CDT, version 2 (AX CDT 2). The specificity at the same level of alcohol consumption , markedly differed between the two methods: 92%, 76% and 90% for CDTe ct, AX CDT 1 and AX CDT 2, respectively. The variation coefficient (da y-to-day) was 10%, 22% and 10% for CDTect, AX CDT 1 and AX CDT 2, resp ectively.