Phosphatidylethanol Confirmation, Blood

PEth, 1-Palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol (PLPEth), 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol (POPEth)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1230896, Beaker: XPEth, CHW

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Biomarker associated with ethanol consumption; may be helpful in monitoring alcohol abstinence.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Lavender-top EDTA tube. (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not aliquot. Send whole blood in original tube. 

Do not centrifuge. Maintain whole blood, refrigerate at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole blood, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Leaky specimen.
• Quantity not sufficient (QNS).
• Shared specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.
  

Storage

Whole Blood
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 17 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 17 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal: 7 days

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI.

Performed

Tuesday, Thursday.  
Results available in 2-6 days.

Reference Range

Less than 10.0 ng/mL

Test Methodology

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker for alcohol (ethanol) intake. In presence of ethanol, phosphatidylcholine is converted to PEth on the red blood cell membrane by the phospholipase D enzyme. PEth homologues (16:0/18:1 [POPEth: 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol] and 16:0/18:2 [PLPEth: 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol]) levels correlate with the amount of alcohol consumed within the previous 2 weeks and may be detected in the blood up to 2 to 4 weeks after excessive alcohol consumption. POPEth and PLPEth comprise approximately 60% of all observed PEth homologues in the blood.

CPT Codes

80321, (Alt code: G0480).
PEth 16:0/18:1 - 97607-6
PEth 16:0/18:2 - 97606-8

Contacts

Last Updated

12/17/2025