Alternative determination of blood alcohol concentration by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Abstract A rapid, accurate and specific proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectroscopic method is developed to determine ethanol in blood, known as the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The limits of detection and quantification are 0.02 g/L and 0.07 g/L, respectively. The 1 H NMR spectra show linearity for whole blood and serum samples of a concentration range of 0.00–3.00 g/L ( R 2  > 0.9995). The 1 H NMR method is applied and validated for whole blood as the sample media. Real driving under influence case samples are analyzed with the reference enzyme-based alcohol dehydrogenase and headspace gas chromatography techniques by the Forensic Medicine in Bonn. The reference results are compared with the 1 H NMR spectroscopic results. The validation and comparison indicate that 1 H NMR is suitable for the quantification of BAC in whole blood. This technique has the advantages of automated analysis with good measurement precision and fast sample throughput. A drop of blood ( V  = 20 μL) is adequate for an analysis leading to a possible simplification of the sample collection. Due to the non-destructive method, follow-up examinations by 1 H NMR spectroscopy or DNA determinations by different techniques (PCR, in situ hybridization) are possible in resolving legal disputes.