Drug Monitoring, Alcohol Metabolite, Quantitative, Urine

Test Code

39384

CPT Codes
80321 (HCPCS: G0480)

Includes

If you require medMATCH for this order code, you must also order code 39158 - Prescribed Drugs, medMATCH®. If 39158 is ordered, all Drug Monitoring order codes will be treated as medMATCH.

If this test code is not ordered with 39158, all medMATCH result codes will be DNR’d.
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Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Ethyl Sulfate (EtS)

Preferred Specimen

3 mL urine in a clinical drug test transport vial

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Urine collected in urine collection container

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Preserved samples

Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-3 days

Clinical Significance

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are minor metabolite of ethanol metabolites and excreted in urine for a longer time than ethanol. Positive EtG and/or EtS test results thus provide a strong indication that the person has recently consumed alcohol, even when ethanol is no longer detectable. The test is a definitive assay using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS) methodology. Therapeutic urine drug monitoring of these metabolites is important for ensuring compliance to treatment strategies. Urine or oral fluid are the specimens of choice for routine monitoring of patients taking prescription drugs. Use of serum/plasma should be limited to anuretic patients, or where a patient's clinical appearance does not coincide with their prescribed medications. No single monitoring approach provides adequate information about the pattern or dose of patient drug use. Safest prescribing habits should include a combination of tools and laboratory test results to correctly detect drug use patterns.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.