CDT DVLA Alcohol Blood Test

About the CDT Alcohol Blood Test

A CDT alcohol test, also known as a Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin test, is a blood test used to assess your alcohol consumption over an extended period of time. It is a biomarker test that measures the levels of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) in the bloodstream. CDT is a protein found in the blood, and its levels can be affected by chronic and heavy alcohol consumption.

When a person consumes alcohol regularly and excessively, it can lead to changes in the glycosylation of transferrin, a protein that carries iron in the blood. This altered transferrin is called Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin. The CDT test detects the presence of this abnormal transferrin and provides an estimate of a person`s alcohol consumption patterns over the previous two to three weeks.

CDT tests are often used for various purposes:

1. Keeping an eye on your alcohol consumption. Always a very good idea to check what effect drinking has on your body.
2. Monitoring Alcohol Treatment: Various regulatory bodies may use CDT tests to monitor patients who are undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction. A decrease in CDT levels over time may indicate a positive response to treatment.
3. Abstinence Verification: CDT tests can be used to verify abstinence from alcohol in individuals who are required to abstain from drinking as part of legal or employment requirements.
   

It is important to note that CDT tests are not typically used for detecting recent or acute alcohol consumption. They are more useful for assessing long-term or chronic alcohol use. 

1 Biomarker