Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The
aim of this pilot study was to assess whether ethanol concentrations 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 emergency department
whose smell and/or behaviour indicated alcohol abuse. Fifteen patients
participated as a control group after they were asked to abstain 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 measure
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 A 350, which uses saliva, is well suited for
quantitative determination of alcohol levels. The levels measured in
saliva 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 purposes, it should prove valuable to determine whether
impaired consciousness is related to alcohol intoxication or to other
likely causes.
