Alcohol (Ethyl)

Method

Spectrophotometric

Reference Ranges

(individual methods listed below)

Default Method

Units: mg/dL

Female		Male		Unknown
Age	Range	Age	Range	Age	Range
0-	Negative [NRN]	0-	Negative [NRN]	0-	Negative [NRN]

Effective date: 09/14/2026

Specimen Type: Blood
Collection: Note: **Never use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants when collecting or storing blood specimens. Use aqueous zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), iodine or other suitable aqueous disinfectants.***

HMC and UW-MT Onsite Locations:
Preferred: 4 mL blood in LIME GREEN PST tube
Also Acceptable: 4 mL blood in ORANGE RST, GOLD SST, LAVENDER TOP, GRAY TOP, RED TOP or GREEN TOP tube

Offsite Clinic or Other Locations:
Preferred: 4 mL blood in GOLD SST tube
Also Acceptable: 4 mL blood in LIME GREEN PST, ORANGE RST, LAVENDER TOP, GRAY TOP, RED TOP or GREEN TOP tube
Quantity: Requested: 1 mL serum/plasma
Minimum: 0.5 mL serum/plasma

Receiving Instructions: Separate from cells within 2 hours. Refrigerate serum/plasma

Stability: Well-sealed serum/plasma specimens are stable up to 7 days at 0-4°C"

Lab Department

Chemistry, Automated Panels(CHA)

Frequency

Daily

Available STAT?

Yes

Performing Location(s)

CL	Renton Core Lab 206-520-4600 Clinical Lab, Room 170 1601 Lind Ave SW Renton, WA 98057
UW-MT	Chemistry, Automated 206-520-4600 Clinical Lab, Room NW220, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific street, Seattle, WA 98195
UW-NW	Main Lab 206-668-1344 UW Medical Center – Northwest 1550 N 115th Street, A200 Seattle, WA 98133

General Information