REPORTED ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND THE SERUM CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN TEST IN 3RD-YEAR MEDICAL-STUDENTS

The serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) test was performed on 143 third-year medical students along with questionnaires for the s elf-reporting of alcohol consumption during the last 2 weeks, the last 6 months, and questions on any alcohol-related untoward events. We fo und that the CDT test has poor sensitivity for detecting binge drinkin g in our population of students, despite some likely under-reporting o f drinking. Self-reporting of drinking is commonly unreliable, and we found no significant correlation between the CDT concentrations in ser um and the magnitude of self-reported alcohol use during 2-week and 6- month periods. Hangover was by far the commonest self-reported untowar d event, and there was a highly significant relationship (P < 0.001) b etween drinking and untoward events. From a small population of non-dr inkers, we estimated the reference ranges for CDT to be < 27 U/l for m en and < 35 U/l for women. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.