Blood LF & CDT Testing for Alcohol and Drugs

Blood testing can provide short-term information useful for determining excessive alcohol use. Concateno provides a combined blood test using a liver function (LF) and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) test

Liver function test

The LF test provided by Concateno looks at a number of markers in blood to investigate the function of a person’s liver. When the liver is damaged the levels of the markers alter within the blood stream, allowing the dysfunction to be detected. The results are based on a snapshot of the liver at the time of sample collection and can reflect damage caused by excessive alcohol use, however changing levels can also be caused from other health problems outside of the liver and some medications.

Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) test

The %CDT test provided by Concateno looks at transferrin, a protein that transports iron around the body, which is affected by drinking alcohol. The effect takes the form of a deficiency of carbohydrate molecules within the protein. The level of deficiency is reported as a percentage (%). A reading of over 1.5% would be considered positive and would be consistent with an increased alcohol intake of longer than 2 to 4 weeks.

Features

• A LF test can highlight dysfunction with the liver that can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption
• A %CDT test offers higher specificity related to heavy alcohol consumption
• Partnership with a laboratory which holds Clinical Pathology Accreditation
• Short-term test to aid assessment of excessive alcohol use

Benefits

• Using this combination of tests provides more comprehensive information
• Only one blood sample is needed to perform both tests
• Provides additional evidence when used with hair testing

It is recommended that these blood alcohol tests are not used in isolation, but rather that they are used with FAEE and EtG hair testing and clinical assessments to create a better understanding when trying to ascertain chronic excessive alcohol use. They should not be used to try to determine abstinence, binge or social drinking. We also have available alcohol breath testers.

Want to know more about the sample collection service or drug testing services available?

Find out more about testing hair, urine, or breath for alcohol or our sobriety to excess alcohol testing options

Find out more about organisations in Child Protection that use hair alcohol testing

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