Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reflects the amount of alcohol circulating in the bloodstream.

It is expressed as a percentage (grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood).

Clinical and legal uses include:

Diagnosing acute alcohol intoxication or poisoning.

Monitoring patients with suspected alcohol-related illness.

Supporting forensic and legal investigations (e.g., driving under the influence cases).

Evaluating compliance in alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Analyte: Ethanol concentration in blood.

Normal Range:

0.00% – No alcohol present.

Interpretation of Results:

0.02 – 0.03%: Mild relaxation, slight impairment.

0.05 – 0.08%: Impaired judgment, reduced coordination (legal intoxication threshold in many regions: 0.08%).

0.10 – 0.20%: Significant impairment, slurred speech, poor balance.

>0.30%: Risk of alcohol poisoning, coma, or death.

Clinical Use:

Provides objective measure of alcohol intoxication.

Guides emergency treatment in suspected poisoning.

Supports medico-legal documentation in forensic cases.