title: Isopropyl alcohol pad use for blood ethanol sampling does not cause false-positive results.
abstract: This was a retrospective analysis of prospective data collected from a study of blood ethanol levels after the use of the alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS). A total of 5 male volunteers were enrolled. Eight of the 10 total blood ethanol level measurements were drawn after skin preparation with Kendall WEBCOL Alcohol Preps (APP) containing 70% isopropyl alcohol. All had an initial and post-ABHS application blood alcohol level (BAL) drawn, for a total of 10 BAL measurements. Measurements upon completion of the study were <5 mg/dL in all 5 study participants and in each of the 10 blood draws regardless of skin preparation technique. This study demonstrates that the use of isopropyl skin prep pads is unlikely to cause significant false-positive blood ethanol levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft. Hood, Texas 76544, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosin
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Levsky
authors.forename: Timothy J D
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Chad S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Crystal
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000431:Ethanol; D019840:2-Propanol