Work

Elimination of EtG and EtS between two consecutive blood samples in apprehended drivers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) are non-oxidative metabolites of ethanol, valuable as biomarkers of alcohol consumption in forensic and clinical contexts. This study aims to calculate the elimination half-lives (t₁/₂) of EtG and EtS in apprehended drivers based on two consecutive blood samples, enhancing the reliability of forensic alcohol consumption assessments. Data was extracted from a database including apprehended drivers in Norway from 2019 to 2024. The study included suspected drunk drivers in which ethanol, EtG and EtS were detected in two consecutive blood samples, drawn at least 20 minutes apart. In cases where the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was at or below 0.20 g/kg, in at least one sample, the t₁/₂ was estimated using both empirical and Bayesian statistical methods. In 670 cases, ethanol, EtG and EtS were detected in two consecutive samples. In 20 of these, the BAC was below 0.20 g/kg. In these 20 cases, the median time between blood samples was 0.46 hours. The empirical calculations of t₁/₂ for cases with declining EtG and EtS concentrations yielded a median of 2.6 hours for EtG and 2.4 hours for EtS. A strong positive correlation was found between empirical t₁/₂ of EtG and EtS (r s =0.81, p<0.001). The t₁/₂ values for EtG and EtS in apprehended drivers are comparable to those reported in experimental studies. The findings contribute to forensic alcohol assessments and legal expert reports. Additional research is needed to investigate EtG and EtS elimination kinetics in real-life impaired driving scenarios. • Median elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) was 2.6 h for EtG and 2.4 h for EtS in the population of apprehended drivers. • The calculated t 1/2 of EtG and EtS were comparable to previously published experimental studies. • There was a strong correlation between the t 1/2 of EtG and the t 1/2 of EtS

Source: Forensic Science International

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112700

Authors: Jan Toralf Fosen, Øyvind Bleka, Knut Hjelmeland, Lena Kristoffersen, Gudrun Høiseth

Institutions: Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Diakonhjemmet Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

Subfield: Toxicology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,580