The saliva strip test is an accurate method to determine blood alcohol concentration in trauma patients

Abstract

Objectives To determine the accuracy of alcohol saliva testing (AST) in trauma patients. Methods Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured by using both AST (QED A350; STC Technologies, Bethlehem, PA) and blood serum levels in 100 trauma patients admitted to the emergency department of an urban Level 1 trauma center. Results All 41 patients who tested positive for BAC on AST (mean [±SD]: 167.9 ± 16.16; range: 20-350 mg/dL) also tested positive on serum determination (mean: 197.6 ± 13.79; range: 22-446 mg/dL). Correlation between the two positive tests was significant (0.879, p < 0.001). Of the remaining 61 patients, 59 tested negative on both tests, while two patients with BACs of <30 mg/dL tested negative on the AST. For 18 patients with blood in the oropharynx, there was a correlation of 0.976 (p < 0.001, two-tailed) between serum and AST tests. Conclusions The AST method of measuring BAC in trauma patients is accurate. Blood in the oral cavity did not appear to affect the accuracy of the test.