BACKGROUND
Research in the field of alcohol consumption relies on accurate measurement of alcohol intake. Transdermal alcohol monitors have recently emerged as a promising tool for measuring alcohol consumption in a valid and continuous way that addresses many of the limitations of other methods of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measurement.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the BACtrack Skyn® transdermal sensor in measuring BAC during a drinking episode.
METHODS
41 participants (mean age 29.68 years) were given free access to alcohol whereby, participants self-selected their beverage, and frequency and quantity of intake (to a maximum of 1.3 g/kg body weight) over the course of four hours. Blood, breath and urine samples were collected at five timepoints throughout the night (i.e., hourly) and BACtrack Skyn transdermal sensors were worn by participants for the duration of the evening.
RESULTS
Transdermal alcohol content (TAC) measurement recorded by the Skyn device positively correlated with breath (r(41) = .84, 95%CI = .71 to .91, p < .001), blood (r(29) = .86, 95%CI = .75 to .94, p < .001), and urine (r(41) = .86, 95%CI = .75 to .92, p < .001) alcohol concentration. The Skyn device exhibited an average latency of 58 minutes between alcohol intake and detection and a failure rate of 65.9%.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study indicate that Skyn devices hold promise for accurately measuring alcohol consumption, allowing for accurate, passive, and continuous alcohol intake over time. This may be particularly beneficial for researchers assessing real-world drinking, individuals seeking to manage their drinking, and healthcare professions providing personalised treatment for problematic drinking. However, the use of transdermal devices is currently challenged by several factors, including individual variability, device malfunction and difficulties with translating TAC into BAC data. Future research is needed to address these limitations.
CLINICALTRIAL
CTRN12621000818831