title: Accuracy of blood ethanol determination using serum osmolality.
abstract: A retrospective review of 81 emergency department patients was performed to determine the accuracy of blood ethanol levels (BEL) calculated from serum osmolality. The osmolar gap (measured-calculated serum osmolality) was used to determine the calculated BEL. The mean difference between calculated and measured BEL was 49.2 mg/dL. Calculated BEL overestimated measured BEL in 83% of patients. Adding a correction factor for unmeasured osmoles to the equation for calculated serum osmolality will reduce this error.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College, New York 12208.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol