The CDT Test for Alcohol Abuse (Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin test) is a blood test designed to detect long-term heavy alcohol consumption. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron throughout the body, and when someone drinks excessively over time, the structure of transferrin changes. This change leads to an increase in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels, making the CDT test an effective marker for identifying individuals who have been drinking heavily for several weeks.
Indication of the Test
Consider ordering the CDT Test for Alcohol Abuse if you:
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If You’re Concerned About Your Drinking: If you’ve been drinking heavily and want to know how it’s affecting your body, the CDT test can provide answers.
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Tracking Your Recovery: If you’re recovering from alcohol misuse, the CDT test helps monitor your progress and catch any signs of relapse early.
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Life Changes or Legal Situations: If you’re going through a child custody case or need to prove you’re not drinking heavily, the CDT test can provide clear evidence.
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Workplace Safety: If you work in a safety-sensitive job and want to make sure alcohol isn’t affecting your performance, this test can help.
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Health Concerns: If you suspect alcohol is affecting your health, the CDT test can help guide your doctor’s recommendations.
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Fitness to Drive: If you’re about to renew your driver’s license or apply for one, authorities may require proof that you’re not drinking heavily.
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Patient Preparation
No special preparation is needed before CDT Test for Alcohol Abuse. You can eat and drink normally. The blood sample is collected quickly and safely by a trained healthcare professional or phelebotomist.
Interpretation of the results
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Normal or Low CDT: Means no heavy drinking in the past few weeks.
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High CDT: Suggests heavy alcohol use during the last two to four weeks.
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Normal Range: CDT levels below about 2.6% are considered normal. Levels above this suggest heavy drinking.
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Very High Levels: In cases of extreme alcohol abuse, CDT can reach up to 10%.
Typical range of CDT Test for Alcohol Abuse
| CDT Level (% of total transferrin | Interpretation |
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| 0.2%–1.5% | Normal range (no recent heavy drinking) |
| > 1.5% | Elevated CDT, suggests heavy alcohol consumption (≥40–60 g/day for at least 2 weeks) |
| Up to 6.3% or higher | Indicates extreme or chronic heavy alcohol abuse |
Turnaround Time
Test results usually come back within 3 to 5 days after the blood sample is taken
How To Order CDT Test For Alcohol Abuse
To order the CDT Test for Alcohol Abuse, simply click the ‘Order Test’ button and add the test to your cart.
Alternatively, you can visit our laboratory in Kilimani, Nairobi to initiate the process
This will initiate the process for obtaining your test.
