A Real Test for Alcoholism (?)

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FDA Approves Test for Alcoholism Risk

12/5/00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new test that

identifies people at risk of alcohol-related disease, Reuters

reported Dec. 1.

The carbohydrate-deficient transferring (CDT) test, manufactured by

the Anglo-Scandinavian diagnostics company Axis-Shield, is expected

to be marketed early next year in the United States by the

Californian company BioRad.

" The beauty of this marker is that it detects whether you are

drinking more alcohol than your body can take, " said Svein Lien,

chief executive officer of Axis-Shield.

According to Lien, heavy drinking elevates levels of CDT, which are

maintained for several weeks even when people stop drinking. The CDT

test would be used to monitor the health of patients in alcohol

treatment centers.

In addition, Lien said the test could be used to check the alcohol

intake of airline pilots and consumers.

The test costs between $4.30 and $5.70 each.