Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) is considered the most specific biomarker for identifying sustained heavy alcohol consumption. CDT is a contemporary biomarker with many exciting diagnostic utilities such as alcohol rehabilitation profiles, employee testing, neurology panels, pre-surgical and post-trauma testing algorithms.

CDT quantification of transferrin isoforms by electrophoresis is a technique utilized in clinical laboratories for screening serum samples from patients for chronic alcohol abuse. Capillary electrophoresis technology provides complete automation and is utilized for the separation of serum transferrin isoforms in order to visualize the total transferrin isoform pattern

Utilizing the CAPILLARYS 2 or MINICAP, Sebia's automated capillary electrophoresis instrumentation, normal serum transferrin isoforms separate into five major fractions according to their sialylation level — asialotransferrin, disialotransferrin, trisialotransferrin, tetrasialotransferrin and pentasialotransferrin. Percent CDT is automatically calculated and is comprised of the low-sialylated isoforms - asialo (0) and disialo (2). CDT values < 1.3% are generally considered as normal and ≥ 1.3% as elevated and due to chronic alcohol abuse.

The Sebia CAPILLARYS and MINICAP CDT assays provide the following: