Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in blood samples from "driving under the influence" cases as indicator for prolonged excessive alcohol consumption.

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is considered as specific biomarker of alcohol consumption. Due to accumulation after repeated drinking, PEth is suitable to monitor long-term drinking behavior. To examine the applicability of PEth in "driving under the influence of alcohol" cases, 142 blood samples with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranging from 0.0-3.12 ‰ were analyzed for the presence of PEth homologues 16:0/18:1 (889 ± 878 ng/mL; range drunk drivers with a BAC ≥ 1.6 ‰ and in 31.6 % of the samples with a BAC < 1.6 ‰. Similar results were obtained for PEth 16:0/18:2 with a threshold of 300 ng/mL. Both criteria, PEth 16:0/18:1 and PEth 16:0/18:2, were conform in the evaluation of drinking habits in 88.7 % of blood samples. These results show the possibility to detect prolonged excessive alcohol consumption, even if the BAC is below the legal threshold of 1.6 ‰ for driving aptitude assessment. As a consequence, concentrations of PEth 16:0/18:1 ≥ 700 ng/mL and of PEth 16:0/18:2 ≥ 300 ng/mL may be considered as indicators for the necessity of driving aptitude assessment in addition to BAC.

Develop and test messages to deter drinking and driving.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Court intervention: pre-sentence investigation techniques for drinking/driving offenses. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Drugs that impair driving: student manual.

Mode of access: Internet.

Why people drink and drive: the bases of drinking-and-driving decisions. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Phase I: developing generalized driving while intoxicated (DWI) school curricula. Interim report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Understanding youthful risk taking and driving.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

The effects of alcohol on performance in a driving simulator of alcoholics and social drinkers. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Determinants of youth attitudes and skills towards which drinking/driving prevention programs should be directed. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Safe driving knowledge dissemination and testing techniques. Volume I. General findings. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Safe driving knowledge dissemination and testing techniques: volume II: final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Driver education unit - alcohol and driving: "alcohol is a crash diet."".

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Visual detection of driving while intoxicated. Project interim report: identification of visual cues and development of detection methods.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Feasibility planning study for a behavior data base. Volume 1 - summary. Volume 2 - appendix A: summary information on the drinking and driving and occupant restraint surveys. Volume 3 - appendix B: compendium of survey questions on drinking and driving and occupant restraints. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Modeling and participation: elements in education to reduce alcohol impaired driving. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.