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Published on December 16, 2019

Ethanol, GC-UNC

No gel in red top bullet Tube Type = Red Top or Royal Blue

No gel in red top bullet

Tube Type

Also available as part of Alcohol Panel

Test ID   LAB5418
EPIC ORDER
   ETHANOL, GC-UNC
CPT Code(s)   80320
Group/Individual Test   Individual
Laboratory   Core
Tube Station   Routine: 30; STAT: 888
Specimen Routine:
7mL blood/navy blue plain tube preferred/lavender EDTA tube, or gray sodium fluoride tube also acceptable; See comments 
  Micro: 500 µL blood/red plain tube (No Gel) or red plain microtainer
Stability

Unspun/unopened specimens are stable for 48 hrs.

Spun/unopened specimens are stable for one week.

Spun/separated specimens are stable for 48 hrs as long as they were capped immediately after aliquoting.
Availability Routine: 24 hrs/day
  STAT: Yes
Turnaround Time Routine: 2 hrs
  STAT: 1 hr
Reference Range Normal: <10 mg/dL
  Critical: >200 mg/dL; >350 mg/dL for Emergency Department
Comments
  • DO NOT PREP PATIENT WITH ALCOHOL SWAB
  • Red top pediatric tubes must NOT contain serum separator gel.

  • Testing is for medical purposes only

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 25, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514