Ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate assays in clinical trials, interpretation, and limitations: results of a dose ranging alcohol challenge study and 2 clinical trials.

Background: The ethanol metabolites, ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), are biomarkers of recent alcohol consumption that provide objective measures of abstinence. Our goals are to better understand the impact of cutoff concentration on test interpretation, the need for measuring both metabolites, and how best to integrate test results with self-reports in clinical trials.

Methods: Subjects (n = 18) were administered, 1 week apart, 3 alcohol doses calibrated to achieve blood concentrations of 20, 80, and 120 mg/dl, respectively.