[The accuracy of blood alcohol determination with head-space GC, ADH and REA ethanol assay for the AXSYM system--a comparison of the methods].

The most commonly used methods for the determination of blood alcohol are the Head-Space Gas Chromatography (HSGC) and the ADH-Method. Abbott offers now a REA-ethanol Assay for the AXSYM-System. The accuracy of the 3 analytical procedural were checked by a method comparison. This involved blood alcohol concentration of 347 serum samples being determined by means of all 3 methods. The deviation of the results of double analysis within the respective method, the difference of the values when using 2 measuring methods each (HSGC-ADH, ADH-AXSYM, HSGC-AXSYM) and the standard deviation of the measurements from HSGC-AXSYM and HSGC-ADH were determined. The REA Ethanol Assay, which was developed for diagnostic and therapeutic questions in cases of alcohol intoxication works with an accuracy which suffices entirely for this task designation. However, the fixed regulation for determining blood alcohol in forensic use cannot be observed fully.