Determination of CDT, a marker of chronic alcohol abuse, for driving license issuing: immunoassay versus capillary electrophoresis

Federica Bortolotti, Franco Tagliaro, Francesca Cittadini, R Gottardo, M Trettene, M. Marigo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present work is aimed at a validation of the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) determination in real cases by comparison between the a commercial immunometric method and a method based on capillary electrophoresis. Overall, 650 serum samples from subjects applying to re-obtain their driving license, previously withdrawn for "drunk driving", were investigated. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between the results from immunoassay and capillary electrophoresis. However, particularly in the samples with CDT values around the cut-off or moderately elevated, a wide dispersion of the correlation data was found. This finding stresses the need to confirm by alternative techniques all the results from CDT immunoassays. For this purpose, capillary electrophoresis, because of its inherent characteristics of high selectivity, easy operation, high productivity and low operative costs looks well-suited for becoming the method of choice.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-58
Number of pages6
JournalForensic Science International
Volume128
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary
  • Female
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Male
  • Transferrin

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determination of CDT, a marker of chronic alcohol abuse, for driving license issuing: immunoassay versus capillary electrophoresis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this