An elevated CDT value usually relates to sustained heavy alcohol use, but not always. A number of factors can influence %CDT without heavy drinking. That is why a lab never looks at CDT alone, but at a set of markers together.
Below you will read which causes can explain an abnormal value and why context matters.
Which causes can raise a CDT value?
Besides alcohol, a few conditions and circumstances can influence %CDT. They are relatively rare, but relevant to interpretation.
- Rare inherited disorders in the sugar chains of proteins (CDG variants).
- Severe liver conditions that disturb the transferrin pattern.
- A recent blood transfusion that can affect the measurement.
Because one marker rarely tells the whole story, a lab combines CDT with gamma-GT and MCV. Which markers the CBR includes, you can read in CDT value and your driving licence.
Why a quantified lab value helps
A quantified %CDT with a reference range is easier to place than a faint line on a home test. The value shows how far you are from the threshold, and can be followed over time. If you want your CDT value measured, a CDT test for alcohol can do that for you. What an abnormal value means for you personally is best discussed with a doctor.
Every blood test result at Zuivertest includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Author