Ethyl glucuronide—the direct ethanol metabolite on the threshold from science to routine use

Abstract

The data suggest that EtG is a useful tool in numerous settings, including alcohol and drug treatment (to detect lapse/relapse and for motivational feedback), in safety sensitive work settings where use is dangerous or in other settings where alcohol use may be risky (e.g. such as driving, work-place, pregnancy or monitoring physicians or other professionals who are in recovery and working) or for resolving forensic questions. If the question of recent alcohol consumption has to be answered in a binary way (yes/no), such as for determining lapses. the use of EtG in urine is among the preferred tests. The use of this marker alone and complementary with other biological state markers and self-reports is expected to lead to significant improvement in treatment outcome, therapy efficacy and cost reduction.

Forensic confirmatory analysis of ethyl sulfate—A new marker for alcohol consumption—by liquid-chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry

“…EtS, therefore, can be used as a marker for ethanol consumption in a similar way as ethyl glucuronide. The need for a second specific short-term marker for alcohol consumption arises from the growing legal relevance of EtG-testing especially in workplace-monitoring programs in the United States [16]; therefore, the determination of EtS can be used for confirmation of an EtG positive urine sample. When the question of recent alcohol consumption has to be answered by yes or no, like for the question of lapses, the use of EtG or EtS in urine can be suggested as a test of first choice.…”

Identification of N-Acetyltaurine as a Novel Metabolite of Ethanol through Metabolomics-guided Biochemical Analysis

“…Many analytical approaches have been adopted for this purpose. For instance, metabolite analyses have identified EtG 2 and ethyl sulfate, two minor metabolites of ethanol, as the indicators of ethanol exposure (29,30), whereas enzymatic assays have established ␥-glutamyltransferase and transaminases as the markers of liver injury (31,32). In addition, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in the serum, mean corpuscular volume of red blood cell, and acetaldehyde adducts have also been used for detecting ethanol abuse (31,33,34).…”

Les marqueurs de l'éthylisme chronique. Focus sur les approches immuno-chimiques

“…En effet, on retrouve ce métabolite dans le sang alors que tout l'éthanol a déjà été éliminé [5]. Dans les urines, l'EtG est détectable jusqu'à 80 heures après exposition [6]. Les applications de la détermination de l'EtG sont nombreuses comme l'illustre sa caractérisation dans des matrices non conventionnelles, telles que les tissus, les os [7], la sueur [8] ou encore les cheveux [9].…”