PEth, another important non-oxidative metabolite, is generated in the cell membranes of most organs when phospholipase D catalyzes the transphosphatidylation of ethanol with phosphatidylcholine. There are 48 known homologs of PEth in human blood, all derived from phosphatidylcholine as the precursor. Due to its 100% specificity and prolonged detection window, PEth is one of the most commonly used biomarkers of recent alcohol drinking. For instance, a single standard drink can produce detectable PEth levels for up to 12 days (134). Additionally, the stability and detectability of PEth in dried whole blood stored on filter paper cards make it highly practical for clinical, research, and forensic applications (109).
