Using ethyl glucuronide in urine to detect light and heavy drinking in alcohol dependent outpatients

作者：McDonell Michael G^*; Skalisky Jordan; Leickly Emily; McPherson Sterling; Battalio Samuel; Nepom Jenny R; Srebnik Debra; Roll John; Ries Richard K

来源：Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2015, 157: 184-187.

DOI：10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.10.004

• Ethyl glucuronide in urine
• Alcohol biomarkers
• Assessment of cut-off
• Heavy drinking

Aims: This study investigated which ethyl glucuronide immunoassay (EtG-I) cutoff best detects heavy versus light drinking over five days in alcohol dependent outpatients.
Methods: A total of 121 adults with alcohol use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders took part in an alcohol treatment study. Participants provided self-reported drinking data and urine samples three times per week for 16-weeks (total samples = 2761). Agreement between low (100 ng/mL, 200 ng/mL), and moderate (500 ng/mL) EtG-I cutoffs and light (women <= 3 standard drinks, men <= 4 standard drinks) and heavy drinking (women >3, men >4 standard drinks) were calculated over one to five days.
Results: The 100 ng/mL cutoff detected >76% of light drinking for two days, and 66% at five days. The 100 ng/mL cutoff detected 84% (1 day) to 79% (5 days) of heavy drinking. The 200 ng/mL cutoff detected >55% of light drinking across five days and >66% of heavy drinking across five days. A 500 ng/mL cutoff identified 68% of light drinking and 78% of heavy drinking for one day, with detection of light (2-5 days <58%) and heavy drinking (2-5 days <71%) decreasing thereafter. Relative to 100 ng/mL, the 200 ng/mL and 500 ng/mL cutoffs were less likely to result in false positives.
Conclusions: An EtG-I cutoff of 100 ng/mL is most likely to detect heavy drinking for up to five days and any drinking during the previous two days. Cutoffs of >= 500 ng/mL are likely to only detect heavy drinking during the previous day.

• 出版日期2015-12-1