Micro Anion Exchange Chromatography of Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin in Serum in Relation to Alcohol Consumption (Swedish Patent8400587–5)

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Abstract
A new simplified and rapid method for detection and quantitation of “carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin” in serum is described. The method is based on isocratk anion exchange chromatography of isotransferrins in disposable microcolumns followed by a double antibody transferrin radioimmune assay. This technique, which separates all transferrin components isoelectric above pH 5.65, showed a very good reproducibility and accuracy with a coefficient of variation between 5 and 9%. 77 alcoholic patients could be dearly separated from 80 healthy “normal consumers” and 33 total abstainers with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 91%. The values were significantly correlated to the amount of alcohol consumed during the latest month, and declined in abstaining alcoholics with a mean biological half‐life of 17 days. Elevated levels occasionally appeared in healthy individuals after daily consumption of 60 g of ethanol during a 10‐day period. In a sample of 187 patients with nonalcohol‐related conditions only 2% false‐positive values were found. This method is suggested as a potential tool for detecting and monitoring alcohol abuse.