NCJ Number
132012
Date Published
1991
Length
49 pages
Annotation
This document describes the Emit Ethyl Alcohol Assay and provides information on the negative impact that alcohol abuse has on society and the workplace.
Abstract
According to the Department of Labor, 70 percent of all individuals who abuse alcohol or other drugs are employed, posing serious safety and health risks in a vast majority of workplaces. In addition, alcohol abuse costs the economy billions of dollars each year through absenteeism, lower productivity, increased benefits, and workers compensation claims and other costs passed on to the consumer through higher prices for goods and services. In 1972, a fast, reliable, and less costly alternative to gas liquid chromatography drug testing, called Emit Ethyl Alcohol Assay, was introduced. The test is based upon the activity of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenese. The more alcohol in a sample the greater the response produced by the enzyme's activity. If no alcohol is present, the enzyme is inactive. Advantages of the Emit test include ease-of-use, increased efficiency, reduction of retesting and dilution, and flexibility. Glossary