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Done Blood Test. What Is My BAC?

Posted on Sun, 29 Jul 2012

Question: If my blood test said I have a white blood count of 19.9, hemoglobin 13.7, olatelet count 309, CPK 107 and an alcohol level of 195, does that mean the BAC is translated to a 0.195?

Answered by Dr. J. Clive Spiegel (6 hours later)

Yes, you are absolutely correct. In many states of the USA, the legal limit is 0.08 which translates to a serum level of 80 when your blood is drawn. So a level of 0.195 would translate to 195 in the blood which is more than twice the legal limit (closer to two and half times the legal limit actually). At a level of 195 you would certainly be deemed alcoholically intoxicated in every state in the USA and every province in Canada. If you are caught with a BAC of 195 while driving a vehicle, you would most certainly be charged with driving while intoxicated . I hope this answers your question to your satisfaction. Best of health to you!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. J. Clive Spiegel (1 hour later)

Is the blood alcohol level affected (lower or higher) by significant loss of blood or administration of an IV prior to taking the blood sample?

Answered by Dr. J. Clive Spiegel (46 minutes later)

Hi,

Simply put, no. The blood alcohol concentration is not dependent on blood count or recent transfusion of blood Products. It is also not affected by significant loss of blood or administration of an IV prior to taking the blood sample.

It is also NOT affected by nutritional status, body weight, liver status, etc.

It is affected by one thing only: how much Alcohol is consumed and how soon after consumption, the blood is sampled.

I hope this clarifies your question. Please do write back in case you have further queries to ask.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E