Elsevier

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

Volume 10, Issue 2, March–April 1992, Pages 129-133
The Journal of Emergency Medicine

Original contributions
Accuracy of blood ethanol determination using serum osmolality

https://doi.org/10.1016/0736-4679(92)90205-8Get rights and content

Abstract

A retrospective review of 81 emergency department patients was performed to determine the accuracy of blood ethanol levels (BEL) calculated from serum osmolality. The osmolar gap (measured — calculated serum osmolality) was used to determine the calculated BEL. The mean difference between calculated and measured BEL was 49.2 mg/dL. Calculated BEL overestimated measured BEL in 83% of patients. Adding a correction factor for unmeasured osmoles to the equation for calculated serum osmolality will reduce this error.

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