What does a positive CDT result mean?
The CDT level can become positive after two weeks of heavy drinking (defined as 60 grams or more of ethanol per day) and with abstinence the values normalize with a mean half-life of 14-17 days (Pharmacia, 1994). Thus a positive CDT can identify recent heavy drinking even after a person has stopped drinking.
What is a CDT blood test?
What Is a CDT Blood Test? As the name suggests, CDT blood testing measures the level of CDT in the bloodstream. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a substance that carries iron to the bone marrow, liver, and spleen.
What causes carbohydrate deficient transferrin?
Alcohol misuse is the most common reason for increased CDT levels and in most studies carried out on persons who are potentially misusing alcohol, the test has 95% specificity i.e. 19 out of 20 times the increased CDT levels are a result of excessive alcohol consumption.
What are normal CDT levels?
The normal value of the serum CDT concentration is under 60 mg/liter; a value between 60 and 100 mg/liter indicates probable alcoholism, and a value > 100 mg/liter indicates a very high probability of alcoholism (specificity: 99%).
How far back can a CDT test detect alcohol?
Transferrin remains in the circulation for 7 to 14 days and CDT, therefore, can give an indication of alcohol consumption over this period of time, which gives it an advantage over blood or urine alcohol measurements which only remain elevated for 24-48 hours after alcohol consumption.
How can I lower my CDT levels fast?
People who do not drink, or drink moderately, will have lower CDT levels in their blood. But people who drink four or more drinks a day, at least five days a week for 2 weeks prior to the test will have CDT at significantly greater levels.
How long does CDT take to Normalise?
The CDT test can thus detect heavy alcohol consumption over a long period of time and is a measure of chronic alcohol consumption. If a person stops drinking, the CDT levels will return to normal levels within 4 weeks. If they start drinking again, the levels will once again rise.
How accurate is CDT test?
A CDT test is one of the most accurate indirect biomarkers with a sensitivity of 77% at detecting chronic alcohol abuse. The test works by establishing the percentage of transferrin that is carbohydrate-deficient. In normal conditions individuals will fall into the range of 0-1.6%.
How long does it take to lower CDT levels?
CDT has a long half-life of 15 days. Under conditions of total abstinence it may take 1-2 months for %CDT levels to return to normal.