Pathology Associates Of Lexington, P.A.

Alcohol abuse, blood tests

CDT blood test

Axis-Shield’s assay, Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (%CDT), is said to be a breakthrough in the early identification of individuals who are at risk of developing alcohol-related disease due to excessive intake. It is about a $180 test from Mayo Clinic. It is estimated that up to 10% of the Western World total population is misusing alcohol, and approximately 30% of individuals who seek medical assistance may also be excessive consumers of alcohol. Blood levels of %CDT are elevated by continuous consumption of high volumes of alcohol and persist for 2-3 weeks after a person ceases to drink alcohol. %CDT in abusers will be elevated earlier than conventional markers (GGTP without proportionate elevation of alkaline phosphatase) which are more nonspecific and more associated with liver "induction" or injury & poorly sensitive. %CDT is also a useful tool in the monitoring of treatment effectiveness and of alcohol-related problems and patient compliance. It seem s to me that this test has a use similar to hemoglobin A1c in diabetics.

The test was originally for detection of "carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome" (CDGS)...patients with CDGS and chronic alcohol abusers produce similar isoform patterns the CDGS is said to have lower elevations.

References:

1. Mayo Clinic Interpretive Handbook, 2001.

2. Axis-Shield