Citation

Heinemann A, Janke D, Puschel K. Blutalkohol 1998; 35(3): 161-173.

Affiliation

Inst. fur Rechtsmedizin Unversitat, 22529 Hamburg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A study with 300 blood samples of drunk driving offenders in Hamburg examines the sensitivity of the current proceedings used as part of the administrative process when regranting driving licences after a drunk driving offence has been committed. Threshold values of blood alcohol concentration (1.6 or 2.0 (per mille)) were analysed by means of biochemical alcoholism parameters. The three groups analysed were A: 1.1-1.59; B: 1.6-1.99; C: > 2.0 (per mille). The parameters used for analysis were methanol, CDT% (carbohydrate deficient transferrin) and GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase). It became apparent that relevant groups of people mentioned in all BAC categories fell within the normal range for markers of alcoholism. In group B (1.6-1.99 (per mille)) 24 % were inconspicuous. However, in group A (1.1-1.59 (per mille)) 68 % of the people showed at least one elevation in parameter. The study emphasises a certain arbitrariness when choosing BAC indicator limits above 1.1 (per mille). Similar results to the ones achieved by CDT% assay can be found using other methods of determining CDT. Unlike the GGT, the parameter showed no dependency on age. An increasing number of problematic sample values could be found in samples taken in the afternoon. This applied to both parameters. For certain BAC areas no correlation could be found between relative drinking symptomatics and GGT/CDT% measurements. Finally, the significance of the results in discussed with relevance to the altered legislation outline which would exclude future scientific studies of similar concept.

DWI; DUI