Table 1: Sensitivity, specificity, drinking behaviour and window of assessment of alcohol biomarkers [7,8,23,65,73].
Biomarkers | Sample Source | Sensitivity% | Specificity% | Drinking Behaviour | Window of Assessment |
GGT | Serum/Plasma | 40-50 | 80-90 | Chronic Heavy Drinking | 2-3 weeks |
MCV | Blood | 60-90 | 30-75 | Chronic Heavy Drinking | 2-4 months |
ALT/AST | Serum/Plasma | 15-69 | 50-95 | Chronic Heavy Drinking | 2-3 weeks |
CDT | Serum/Plasma | 80-90 | 85-95 | Heavy alcohol use | 2-3 weeks |
5-HTOL | Urine | n/a** | n/a** | Recent Use | 5-20 hours |
PEth | Blood | 80-90 | 90-95 | Heavy alcohol use* | 2-4 weeks |
FAEE | Serum | > 75 | > 75 | Recent Use | 2-3 days |
FAEE | Hair | 100 | 90 | Chronic Heavy Drinking | Several Months depending upon hair length |
EtG | Urine | 73-75 | 55-60 | Recent Use | 2-5 days |
EtG | Hair | 70-90 | 80-95 | Chronic Heavy Drinking | Several Months depending upon hair length |
*= more than 60 grams per day (4-5 standard drinks); **n/a = data not available.