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Preliminary investigations on ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate cutoffs for detecting alcohol consumption on the basis of an ingestion experiment and on data from withdrawal treatment

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Abstract

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are commonly used alcohol markers for previous alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, the optimum EtG cutoff for urinary abstinence tests is still being discussed, and no cutoff has been recommended for EtS yet. The aim of this study was to verify cutoffs by investigating EtG and EtS concentrations (cEtG and cEtS) in the urine of healthy persons after drinking small, but realistic amounts of alcohol (one or two glasses of beer or white wine), and to look for the window of detection in strongly alcohol-intoxicated patients who were beginning withdrawal treatment. Very high EtG and EtS concentrations were measured in the first urine samples of patients under withdrawal treatment. However, 24 h later, concentrations decreased considerably, and c EtG < 0.5 mg/l and c EtS < 0.1 mg/l were determined in 26.7 % (4/13) and 13.3 % (2/13) of the samples, respectively. Concentrations above 0.1 mg/l (EtG) and 0.05 mg/l (EtS) were measured for 23.5 and 20.5 h after consuming 0.1 l of white wine or 0.33 l of beer, and 24 h after the experiment, 75 % (9/12) of the urine samples were tested negative for EtG and EtS using the following cutoffs: EtG 0.5 mg/l and EtS 0.1 mg/l. In half of the samples, concentrations below 0.1 mg/l (EtG) and 0.05 mg/l (EtS) were detected. Urinary cutoffs for EtG of 0.5 mg/l or higher are not suitable for testing abstinence. Even 0.1 mg/l is not effective to detect the intake of small amounts of alcohol in the context of abstinence tests. For EtS, 0.05 mg/l were found to be a potential cutoff to exclude the repeated intake of alcohol. Yet, further research is required to verify this cutoff. For a limited time period, EtG and EtS concentrations within the range of these cutoffs are also detectable after unintentional consumption of alcohol. Participants of abstinence programs have to be informed about the alcohol content of certain foods and beverages whose consumption is in conflict with strict abstinence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany

    Maria Elena Albermann, Frank Musshoff, Elke Doberentz & Burkhard Madea

  2. Department for Psychiatry and Dependency Diseases, Rheinische Kliniken Bonn, Kaiser-Karl-Ring 20, 53111, Bonn, Germany

    Peter Heese & Markus Banger

Authors
  1. Maria Elena Albermann
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  2. Frank Musshoff
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  3. Elke Doberentz
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  4. Peter Heese
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  5. Markus Banger
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  6. Burkhard Madea
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Correspondence to Maria Elena Albermann.

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M.E. Albermann and F. Musshoff contributed equally to this work.

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Albermann, M.E., Musshoff, F., Doberentz, E. et al. Preliminary investigations on ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate cutoffs for detecting alcohol consumption on the basis of an ingestion experiment and on data from withdrawal treatment. Int J Legal Med 126, 757–764 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0725-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0725-3

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