title: Cellular photo digital breathalyzer for monitoring alcohol use: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monitoring alcohol use is important in numerous situations. Direct ethanol metabolites, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG), have been shown to be useful tools in detecting alcohol use and documenting abstinence. For very frequent or continuous control of abstinence, they lack practicability. Therefore, devices measuring ethanol itself might be of interest. This pilot study aims at elucidating the usability and accuracy of the cellular photo digital breathalyzer (CPDB) compared to self-reports in a naturalistic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 social drinkers were included. Subjects used a CPDB 4 times daily, kept diaries of alcohol use and submitted urine for EtG testing over a period of 5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, the 12 subjects reported 84 drinking episodes. 1,609 breath tests were performed and 55 urine EtG tests were collected. Of 84 drinking episodes, CPDB detected 98.8%. The compliance rate for breath testing was 96%. Of the 55 EtG tests submitted, 1 (1.8%) was positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that the CPDB device holds promise in detecting high, moderate, and low alcohol intake. It seems to have advantages compared to biomarkers and other monitoring devices. The preference for CPDB by the participants might explain the high compliance. Further studies including comparison with biomarkers and transdermal devices are needed.
authors: Promises Treatment Centers, Los Angeles, Calif., USA.
authors: Gregory E
authors: GE
authors: Skipper
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Thon
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: DuPont
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Campbell
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Weinmann
authors: Friedrich M
authors: FM
authors: Wurst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005965:Glucuronates; C093924:ethyl glucuronide