Sign in →

Epic Code LABPETH Phosphatidylethanol Confirmation, Blood

Important Note

This test is not available. Tentative go-live date: December 2025

Test Name Alias

PEth

Interface Order Alias

Unavailable

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

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Blood

 

Container(s): Lavender EDTA Tube

Preferred Volume to Collect: 1.0 mL

Minimum Volume to Collect: 0.5 mL

Neonate Volume to Collect: 0.5 mL

Capillary collect ok? No

Microtainer acceptable: Yes

 

Collection Instructions:

  1. Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use alternative (such as Betadine, also known as Povidone Iodine) to cleanse site before specimen collection.

  2. Draw blood in tubes smaller than 10 mL if possible.

  3. Do not centrifuge.

  4. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

 

Processing Instructions (Laboratory, Outpatient or Off-site collection)

  • Processed Specimen: Whole Blood
  • Centrifuge/Spin: No
  • Aliquot: No
  • Transport Temperature: Refrigerated

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Rejection Criteria

  • Leaky specimen
  • Quantity not sufficient (QNS) 
  • Shared specimens

Specimen Stability

Ambient: N/A

Refrigerate: 17 days

Frozen: 17 days

Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Add ons are not allowed

Test Frequency

Performed Tuesday and Thursday, turn-around time 2-6 days

Reference Range

Interpretive Comments

 

POPEth (1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol):

A result of 20 ng/mL to 200 ng/mL is considered evidence of moderate ethanol consumption, while results over 200 ng/mL indicate heavy ethanol consumption. However, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment advises caution in interpretation and use of biomarkers alone to assess alcohol use. Results should be interpreted in the context of all available clinical and behavioral information.(2)

 

PLPEth (1-Palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol):

There are no current clinical reference limits for this phosphatidylethanol (PEth) homologue.

 

Reference Ranges:

PEth 16:0/18:1 (POPEth)

 

Less than 10 ng/mL: Not detected

10-19 ng/mL: Abstinence or light alcohol consumption (<2 drinks per day for several days a week)

20-200 ng/mL: Moderate alcohol consumption (up to 4 drinks per day for several days a week)

Greater than 200 ng/mL: Heavy alcohol consumption or chronic alcohol use (at least 4 drinks per day several days a week)

 

PEth 16:0/18:2 (PLPEth): Reference ranges are not well established.

Performing Department

Toxicology

Performing Department Laboratory Location

Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI

Methodology

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

CPT

G0480

CDM Code

Not available

Epic Test ID

Not Available

LOINC

PEth 16:0/18:1 - 97607-6

PEth 16:0/18:2 - 97606-8

Reviewed Date

Under Review

Orderable Regions

West