Inventors:
Raju K. Pullarkat - Staten Island NY
Premila S. Pullarkat - Staten Island NY
Simhachalam Raguthu - Staten Island NY
Assignee:
Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. - Albany NY
International Classification:
G01N 3300
G01N 3090
G01N 3002
G01N 2177
Abstract:
Chronic or long-term alcohol consumption is detected and monitored by determining the level of a newly-observed, alcohol-specific carbohydrate in body fluids (e. g. urine) of subjects by calorimetric reaction using qualitative and quantitative assay methods. The alcohol-specific carbohydrate have been identified as a novel ethyl glucuronide. Ethyl glucuronide is observed and detected in direct response to alcohol consumption in body fluids, and can be isolated and purified. Simple, economical, and reproducible assay methods, such as a spot assay and an ascending or thin layer chromatography assay, provide reliable, objective, and sensitive methods for detecting and monitoring a chronic alcoholic condition. Both the presence of the alcohol-specific ethyl glucuronide and a substantial increase in its levels are indicative of chronic alcoholism. Since the novel ethyl glucuronide is produced and appears as a direct response to chronic alcohol intake, the novel carbohydrate is considered to be a unique biomarker for the detection of alcoholism, with virtually no possibility of false positive results.