At Lextox we provide a number of testing methods, in order to help you pick the most effective testing for your case. If you are looking to track an individual’s alcohol consumption over time, two of the options available are frequent PEth blood tests or a SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Testing.
In this blog we compare the two options to help you work out which option would be more suitable.
SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Testing
SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Testing is an innovative way of testing a participants’ alcohol consumption over a period of time. The SCRAM bracelet (which fits around an individual’s ankle) allows for 24/7 alcohol testing through scientifically proven technology and is the first of its kind.
The use of a SCRAM bracelet is to provide information on alcohol consumption subsequent to the bracelet being fitted. The bracelet provides information regarding alcohol consumption every 30 minutes and could therefore be used to ascertain a detailed pattern of alcohol consumption over a period of time, for example 90 days, after fitting the bracelet.
Instructing SCRAM testing to look at an individual’s chronic excessive alcohol use means less work for you, as you will only need to instruct us once and can request reporting at a frequency convenient to you. For more information on SCRAM testing please visit our website.
Compared to a number of PEth tests, a SCRAM bracelet, will also require less Sample Collection appointments, with only one appointment needed to fit the bracelet and one to remove.
PEth Blood Test
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) testing is a reliable method to help create a picture of alcohol consumption.
A PEth blood test measures the level of phosphatidylethanol, a direct alcohol biomarker which is found in human blood following alcohol consumption.
The more a person drinks alcohol, the more PEth will be formed in the blood. PEth blood testing is useful in detecting prolonged or heavy ‘binge’ drinking, when tested for regularly. Typically, the detection period for PEth is 4 weeks. PEth can remain in blood for as long as 4 weeks.
PEth is an extremely reliable source of testing to identify alcohol consumption, is endorsed by the National institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) and is recognised globally as one of most reliable sources of testing as a direct ethanol biomarker.
PEth tests to monitor alcohol misuse over time require a number of blood tests, which can be slightly more invasive for your donor and means more instructions to Lextox. Our team will be on hand however to make the process as easy for you as possible.
Conclusion
Both testing options will provide you with information on an individual’s alcohol consumption.
PEth is a reliable blood test which provides a detection period of up to 4 weeks prior to collection, but a number of PEth tests requires several separate blood tests for the donor and several instructions.
A SCRAM bracelet provides a detailed daily pattern of alcohol consumption once a bracelet has been fitted.
To instruct us for a blood test or SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Testing, contact us today on 029 2048 4141 or email [email protected].
Published 02/02/23 – All information correct at time of publication