PEth blood alcohol markerPEth Alcohol Blood Test
All Tests

PEth Alcohol Blood Test

£149 ✓ In Stock

What's covered in the price: Laboratory-supplied test kit with sample collection materials and prepaid return packaging. Results turnaround varies by test — see the estimated turnaround time shown above.
Results ready within 3 working days

Your sample goes to a UKAS accredited laboratory meeting ISO 15189 standards.

Date of birth required

After you receive your order confirmation email, please reply with your date of birth.

Blood sample
Home test kit
CQC registered Accredited UK labs ISO 15189

How it works

Your testing journey

From order to results in four simple steps. Full transparency on where each step happens and what it costs.

1
Medi Test Direct kit delivered by post

Receive your kit by post

Dispatched same working day if ordered before 3pm. Royal Mail Tracked delivery, typically 1–3 working days. 90% of kits arrive within 24 hours.

2
Home sample collection

Collect at home

Everything you need is in the kit. Collect your sample in the privacy of your own home — no appointment needed, no clinic visit.

Included in kit price
3
Finger-prick blood sample at home

Small finger-prick sample

Use the single-use lancet included in your kit to take a few drops of blood from your fingertip — similar to how diabetics check their blood sugar. Takes about 2 minutes.

4
Return sample by prepaid envelope

Return by prepaid envelope

Seal your sample in the biohazard bag provided and drop it in any Royal Mail postbox using the prepaid Tracked 24 envelope. Post Monday–Thursday for best results.

The Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) Test is the gold standard biomarker for detecting alcohol consumption over the preceding 3-4 weeks. Unlike traditional liver function tests that can be affected by numerous factors, PEth is formed exclusively when alcohol is present in the bloodstream, making it a highly specific and direct marker of alcohol intake with over 99% accuracy. This simple finger-prick home collection kit provides objective, quantifiable evidence of drinking patterns without requiring a clinic visit or phlebotomist.

Who Should Consider This Test?

  • 🏗️ Occupational Health Pre-employment screening or random testing for safety-critical roles such as HGV drivers, construction workers, or machinery operators
  • 💪 Recovery Tracking Monitor your progress during sobriety—objective biomarker evidence to confirm abstinence and motivate continued recovery
  • 🏥 Clinical Monitoring Supporting alcohol treatment programmes with objective feedback on abstinence or consumption levels
  • 🔒 Personal Accountability Private testing for individuals wanting objective evidence of their drinking patterns to share with family or for personal reassurance

Important Information

Results Only — No Legal Report: This test provides laboratory results with chain of custody documentation where applicable. We do not provide a legal report, expert witness testimony, medical review officer (MRO) review, or court-ready documentation.

Prescription Medications: If you are taking prescribed medications that contain any of the tested substances, this test will produce a positive result for those drug classes. Disclose your current medications when interpreting results.

Confirmation Testing: If a screening result is positive and you require definitive confirmation, LC-MS/MS confirmation testing can be arranged separately for highly specific identification.

Home Finger-Prick Blood Collection Kit

  1. 1Blood collection tube
  2. 2Single-use lancet device
  3. 3Sterile gauze pad
  4. 4Adhesive plaster
  5. 5Cleansing wipe
  6. 6Biohazard specimen bag
  7. 7Prepaid return envelope (Royal Mail Tracked 24)
  8. 8Step-by-step instructions
Home Collection: Follow the kit instructions carefully. Return your sample using the prepaid envelope on the same day as collection where possible. Avoid posting on a Friday or before a bank holiday. Prescription Medications: If you are taking prescribed medications that contain or metabolise into any of the tested substances (e.g. codeine for pain, benzodiazepines for anxiety, amphetamine-based ADHD medications), the test may produce a positive result. Bring or disclose a list of your current medications when interpreting results. Results Only — No Legal Report: This test provides laboratory results with chain of custody documentation where applicable. We do not provide a legal report, expert witness testimony, medical review officer (MRO) review, or court-ready documentation. If you require legal-grade reporting, please contact us before ordering. Confirmation Testing: If a screening result is positive and you require definitive confirmation, LC-MS/MS confirmation testing can be arranged separately. This provides highly specific identification of the exact compounds present and is the gold standard for confirming initial screening results. Alcohol Exposure Sources: Even small amounts of alcohol from sources such as mouthwash, hand sanitiser, certain foods (kombucha, fermented foods), and cough syrups can occasionally affect results — particularly for highly sensitive markers like EtG. Avoid these sources for at least 48 hours before sampling for the most accurate result.

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct alcohol biomarker formed in red blood cell membranes only when ethanol is present in the body. It is the most specific blood marker of alcohol consumption available, with a detection window of approximately four weeks and accuracy above 99%. PEth levels correlate with the amount of alcohol consumed in the preceding two to four weeks and can distinguish abstinence from light, moderate, and heavy drinking. Unlike indirect markers, PEth is unaffected by liver disease, medications, age, sex, or general health, making it the gold standard for monitoring alcohol intake in clinical, occupational, and family law contexts.

Medical Disclaimer

This test is for screening and information only — it is not a medical diagnosis or professional advice. Please have your results reviewed by a qualified doctor or healthcare provider who can explain what they mean for your personal health situation. If your results show anything outside the normal range, or if you're worried about your health, see your doctor as soon as you can. Don't change any medications or treatments based on these results alone — always talk to your healthcare provider first.

NO CLINICS, NO QUEUES, NO HASSLE

Four steps to clarity

Pick your panel 01

Pick your panel

Browse over 200 clinically designed test kits and choose the one that fits your goals.

Kit to your door 02

Kit to your door

Everything you need arrives in discreet packaging with step-by-step instructions inside.

Collect your sample 03

Collect your sample

Follow the simple instructions in your kit — whether it's a finger-prick at home or a venous draw at a partner clinic.

Insights delivered 04

Insights delivered

Clear, easy-to-understand results sent to you online with actionable health guidance.

Frequently asked questions

PEth (phosphatidylethanol) is a direct biomarker of alcohol consumption. It is produced only when alcohol is present and reflects drinking patterns over the past 3-4 weeks. It is more specific than traditional liver markers (GGT, MCV).

PEth has a half-life of approximately 4 days. After stopping drinking, levels typically return to normal within 3-4 weeks.

No.

You may also be interested in

5-marker alcohol biomarker profile
Professional venous blood collection tubes (Gold SST and Purple EDTA) for a Comprehensive Alcohol Profile, analyzing multi-stage biomarkers for alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Profile Blood Test

A comprehensive five-biomarker blood alcohol profile (PEth, CDT, liver function, MCV, blood alcohol) providing both direct and indirect evidence of alcohol consumption over the past 3-4 weeks — ideal for occupational health, recovery monitoring, and personal accountability.

Results estimated in 3 working days

5 biomarkers

PEth (Phosphatidylethanol),CDT (Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin),Liver Function (ALT + 7 more
£249.00 Select test
Venous collection
6-marker alcohol profile with EtG
Venous blood collection tubes and a urine sample container for an Enhanced Alcohol Profile 2, measuring short-term EtG and long-term PEth/CDT biomarkers.

Alcohol Profile Plus Blood Test

Our most comprehensive alcohol profile combining six biomarkers (PEth, CDT, liver function, MCV, blood alcohol, and urine EtG) for the most complete assessment of alcohol consumption patterns over the past 3-4 weeks.

Results estimated in 3 working days

6 biomarkers

PEth (Phosphatidylethanol),CDT (Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin),Liver Function (ALT + 8 more
£299.00 Select test
Venous collection
EtG urine alcohol marker
Laboratory-grade urine specimen container and biohazard packaging for a Urine Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) toxicology screen, used for verifying recent alcohol abstinence.

Ethyl Glucuronide (ETG) Urine Test

A urine ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test detecting recent alcohol consumption up to 80 hours after drinking — used for abstinence monitoring, treatment programmes, and zero-tolerance situations where standard alcohol tests miss past drinking.

Results estimated in 2 working days

1 biomarkers

Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG)
£115.00 Select test
Finger-prick collection