QED Alcohol Test: a simple and quick method to detect ethanol in saliva ofpatients in emergency departments - Comparison with the conventional determination in blood

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether ethanol concen trations in saliva are comparable to those in blood and to evaluate whether this new non-invasive saliva alcohol test is suitable for use in emergency departments. Design: Prospective, open, non-randomised study. Setting: University hospital emergency department. Patients and methods: 100 consecutive patients who were admitted to the eme rgency department whose smell and/or behaviour indicated alcohol abuse. Fif teen patients participated as a control group after they were asked to abst ain from alcohol consumption for 24 h before the study. Interventions: Blood and saliva samples were obtained at the same time for ethanol measurement. The Q.E.D. Alcohol Test A350 was used in order to meas ure the concentration of ethanol in saliva. Blood samples were analysed by the alcohol dehydrogenase method. Results: The mean difference between the ethanol levels in blood and saliva was -0.1 mg/dl, whereas the values measured in saliva were on average 0.1 mg/dl higher than those measured in blood (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The Q.E.D. Alcohol Test A350, which uses saliva, is well suited for quantitative determination of alcohol levels. The levels measured in s aliva correlate well with those measured in blood at both the lower and the upper end of the scale. Because this test is quick and easy to perform by emergency room personnel and the results are accurate enough for clinical p urposes, it should prove valuable to determine whether impaired consciousne ss is related to alcohol intoxication or to other likely causes.