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HelpOrder Code PETH Phosphatidylethanol Confirmation, Blood
Additional Codes
EPIC LAB 1841ia
Specimen Required
Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use alternative (such as Betadine or ChloraPrep) to cleanse site before specimen collection.
2. Do not centrifuge.
3. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.
Secondary ID
617480Useful For
Verifying abstinence or use of ethanol, especially in liver transplant candidates/patients
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Reporting Name
Phosphatidylethanol Confirmation, BSpecimen Type
Whole Blood EDTASpecimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Blood EDTA | Frozen (preferred) | 28 days | |
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
Reject Due To
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Clinical Information
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker for alcohol (ethanol) intake. In presence of ethanol, phosphatidylcholine is converted to PEth on the red blood cell membrane by the phospholipase D enzyme. PEth homologues (16:0/18:1 [POPEth: 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol] and 16:0/18:2 [PLPEth: 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol]) levels correlate with the amount of alcohol consumed within the previous 2 weeks and may be detected in the blood up to 2 to 4 weeks after excessive alcohol consumption. POPEth and PLPEth comprise approximately 60% of all observed PEth homologues in the blood.(1)
Reference Values
Negative (<10 ng/mL)
Cutoff concentrations by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry:
PEth 16:0/18:1 (POPEth): 10 ng/mL
PEth 16:0/18:2 (PLPEth): 10 ng/mL
Clinical Reference
1. Helander A, Zheng Y. Molecular species of the alcohol biomarker phosphatidyethanol in human blood measured by LC-MS. Clin Chem. 2009:55:(7):1395-1405. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2008.120923
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Medication for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4907. SAMHSA; 2015
3. Ulwelling W, Smith K. The PEth blood test in the security environment: What it is; why it is important; and interpretative guidelines. J Forensic Sci. 2018;63(6):1634-1640. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13874
4. Hakim F, Wiart JF, Menard O, Allorge D, Gaulier JM. Dosage sanguin du phosphatidylethanol Phosphatidylethanol blood analysis. Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2019;77(6):638-644. French. doi:10.1684/abc.2019.1499
5. Langman LJ, Bechtel LK, Holstege CP. Clinical toxicology. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 43
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
2 to 5 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80321
G0480 (if appropriate)
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| PETH | Phosphatidylethanol Confirmation, B | 101506-4 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 617481 | PEth 16:0/18:1 (POPEth) by LC-MS/MS | 97607-6 |
| 617482 | PEth 16:0/18:2 (PLPEth) by LC-MS/MS | 97606-8 |
| 617483 | PEth Interpretation | 69050-3 |
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following with the specimen:
-Therapeutics Test Request (T831)
-General Test Request (T239)
-Renal Diagnostics Test Request (T830)