Ethyl glucuronide - a biological marker for recent alcohol consumption

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a non-volatile, water-soluble metabolite of etha nol, with a high storage stability. It can be detected in body fluids, tiss ues, sweat and hair for an extended time period after the elimination of et hanol from the body. EtG closes the gap between short-term markers for alco hol consumption such as ethanol or methanol and long-term markers for alcoh ol misuse such as GGT, MCV and CDT. Due to its specific time-frame of detec tion and its high sensitivity and specificity, EtG is a promising marker fo r alcohol consumption and for relapse control that enables the therapist to intervene at an early stage of relapsing behaviour. The aim of this review is to give an over view of analytical techniques for the detection of EtG, its clinical use and remaining questions.