Alcoholism detection markers in blood samples of road users

Abstract

Alcoholics as participants in road traffic are an international problem. In Germany a confiscated driving licence is only given back by the road traffic authorities to suspected alcoholics after a medico-psychological examination. The problem is: "How can alcoholics be detected among drunken road users." Traffic authorities use as a marker of alcoholism only the height of the blood alcohol concentration. The limit is a level of 1.6 g alcohol per kg blood, in some regions a level of 2.0 g/kg. Our studies show that the blood alcohol level is a very weak marker for alcoholism. Better markers are beside the GGT the alcohols methanol and isopropanol. They can be detected by congener alcohol analysis. Their concentrations are significant elevated by long-lasting drinking like it is typical for alcoholics.