Determination of ethyl glucuronide in hair

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor metabolite of alcohol that can be detected in hair. The objective of this study was to develop a validated method for the detection of EtG in hair samples. In addition, the research evaluated whether the level of ethyl glucuronide in hair can distinguish excessive v. social use of alcohol. Samples were collected from individuals who self-reported their daily or weekly consumption of alcohol. The hair samples were extracted and analyzed by GC-MS-MS. This study successfully developed a method to detect EtG in hair. EtG can be detected in concentrations from 1 pg/mg to 2 ng/mg. However, it was not possible to determine whether a correlation exists between a patient's self-reported drinking history and the EtG concentrations found in their hair. Further research is needed to refine the extraction method.