Estimation of blood alcohol concentration by horizontal attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Numerous methods like distillation followed by iodometric titrations, gas chromatograph (GC)–flame ionization detector, gas chromatograph–mass spectrophotometer, GC-Headspace, Breath analyzer, and biosensors including alcohol dehydrogenase (enzymatic) have been used to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In the present study, horizontal attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy had been used to determine BAC in whole blood. The asymmetric stretching frequency of C–C–O group of ethanol in water (1,045 cm−1) had been used to calculate BAC using Beer's Law. A seven-point calibration curve of ethanol was drawn in the concentration range 24–790 mg dL−1. The curve showed good linearity over the concentration range used (r2 = 0.999, standard deviation = 0.0023). The method is accurate, reproducible, rapid, simple, and nondestructive in nature.