Publication

Alcohol congener analysis and the source of alcohol: a review

Journal Paper/Review - Mar 3, 2013

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Rodda L, Beyer J, Gerostamoulos D, Drummer O. Alcohol congener analysis and the source of alcohol: a review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2013; 9:194-207.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2013; 9
Publication Date
Mar 3, 2013
Issn Electronic
1556-2891
Pages
194-207
Brief description/objective

For many decades traditional alcohol congener analysis has provided the concentrations of fermentation by-product congeners found in blood, to ascertain if the claims of an individual regarding the alcoholic beverage(s) they have consumed were feasible, assisting in cases where after-drinking is involved. However, this technique does not provide information on the exact alcoholic beverage(s) consumed. More recently, ingredient biomarker congeners specific to certain alcoholic beverages have been detected in blood, making it possible to identify the particular alcoholic beverage consumed and therefore the source of alcohol (albeit only for a limited number of beverages). This novel approach may reduce current limitations that exist with traditional methods of detecting fermentation by-product congeners, which restrict the use of alcohol congener analysis internationally and for other medico-legal scenarios. This review examines the forensic application of alcohol congener analysis in determining the source of alcohol and other techniques.