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The Validity of Phosphatidylethanol in Dried Blood Spots of Newborns for the Identification of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Author(s) -
Bakhireva Ludmila N.,
Leeman Lawrence,
Savich Renate D.,
Cano Sandra,
Gutierrez Hilda,
Savage Daniel D.,
Rayburn William F.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.12349
Subject(s) - ethyl glucuronide , phosphatidylethanol , medicine , urine , pregnancy , dried blood spot , binge drinking , prospective cohort study , alcohol , cohort , dried blood , creatinine , obstetrics , poison control , environmental health , injury prevention , phospholipid , biochemistry , chemistry , alcohol consumption , membrane , phosphatidylcholine , biology , genetics , chromatography
Background Accurate identification of prenatal alcohol exposure ( PAE ) in the newborn period offers an opportunity for early identification of children at risk of future neurocognitive problems and the implementation of interventional approaches earlier in life. PAE newborn screening by measuring phosphatidylethanol in dried blood spot ( PE th‐ DBS ) cards is feasible, logistically easier, and more cost‐efficient compared with other biomarkers. However, the sensitivity and specificity of this method have yet to be established. Methods This prospective cohort study examined validity of PE th‐ DBS among 28 infants with PAE and 32 controls relative to maternal self‐report and other biomarkers. Pregnant women were recruited from a U niversity of N ew M exico clinic and followed to early postpartum period. The composite index, which was based on self‐reported measures of alcohol use and allowed to classify subjects into PAE and control groups, was the criterion measure used to estimate sensitivity and specificity of PE th‐ DBS . Results The study included large proportions of patients representing ethnic minorities (7.4% American Indian, 81.7% H ispanic/ L atina), low education (54.2%