A blood alcohol test, as the name suggests, is a test that aids in the detection of the presence of alcohol in the blood. Alcohol poses an evident effect on the body of the consumer, even if consumed in limited quantity. Large quantities, on the other hand, acts as a sedative and relaxes (depresses) the central nervous system.
Alcohol Blood Test Detection Time
Alcohol is a substance that gets quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and can be detected within minutes of its consumption. Nearly 90% of the alcohol is broken down by the liver, and the rest of it is either excreted out through urine or is exhaled via breath.
Why is a blood alcohol test done?
It is typically done to:-
• Measure the amount of alcohol present in the blood of an individual when he/she is suspected illegally drunk or intoxicated. Common symptoms of intoxication include lack of coordination, unsteadiness, confusion, unsafe driving, etc. The test is also known as ‘blood test for alcohol abuse’ in this case.
• Detect the cause of an individual’s altered mental status, like coma, confusion or interrupted thinking.
• Check the presence of alcohol in cases when consumption of alcohol is prohibited. For instance, in case of underage consumption, individual enrolled in an alcohol treatment program, etc.
Blood Alcohol Testing Methods
There are two known methods to detect the presence of alcohol in the human system. Either by the use of a blood alcohol test or by using special breath alcohol detectors.
In the case of a blood alcohol test, a sample of blood is drawn from one of the veins of the body. The sample of collected in special blood collection tubes and is sent to the laboratory for testing and analysis. On the other hand, in the case of breath alcohol detector, an individual is asked to blow in air into the machine via a mouthpiece attached the detector. The sensor presents results within 2 minutes.
Blood Alcohol Test Results
A normal test result means that the tested individual’s body has not been intoxicated by alcohol. While an abnormal or negative result indicates that alcohol is present in the person’s bloodstream. Legal intoxication is typically termed as having an alcohol level that’s equal to or above 80mg/dL. Anything between 80 and 400mg/dL means that an individual is likely to experience increased impairment and depression of central nervous system. At the same time, a range of 400mg/dL means that the individual is likely to lose his/her consciousness. The legal blood alcohol concentration level amid people under the age of 18 (25 in India) must be lower than 20mg/dL.
Blood alcohol test service is offered by all diagnostic center in Bhubaneswar and other cities
across the nation.
