Test guide
Blood Alcohol Level
A blood alcohol test measures the amount of alcohol (also called ethanol) in a sample of your blood. Alcohol is the ingredient in beer, wine, and distilled spirits (liquor) that makes you feel intoxicated (drunk).
What it is for
A blood alcohol test is most often used to determine not only if alcohol is present in your blood but also to what extent it's affecting you. Alcohol can change various brain functions. If you've only consumed a small amount, these changes aren't often dangerous to your immediate health. Your mood might change, and your reaction time may be reduced. Larger amounts of alcohol, however, can be much more dangerous, leading to coma or even death. You may need to take a blood alcohol test for a number of reasons, including: Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Limitations
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also known as
- blood alcohol level test, ethanol test, ethyl alcohol, blood alcohol content
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