Samenvatting
This article discusses the role of serum-based laboratory tests in identifying relapse to drinking by alcoholic patients. Particular emphasis is given to carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), a marker of heavy drinking recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. After summarizing research on its sensitivity and specificity, several generalizations are offered about its performance and the benefits of its use in conjunction with gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, a commonly employed liver function test. The article concludes by suggesting fruitful directions for future research on biomarkers as aids in identifying return to drinking. (Author/publisher) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD Abstract No. E201067.