Medichecks Drug & alcohol testing

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) Blood Test

A single-marker blood test for phosphatidylethanol (PEth), used to assess alcohol intake over the past two to four weeks. Suits medical, legal or workplace alcohol monitoring.

  • At-home test
  • Doctor reviewed
Sample
Blood
Collection
At-home finger-prick or in-store clinic or home nurse visit or venous draw at clinic
Results in
8 days
Biomarkers
1
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Tests for
  • Phosphatidylethanol

Test specifications

Provider
Medichecks
Sample type
blood
Collection method
at-home finger-prick or in-store clinic or home nurse visit or venous draw at clinic
Turnaround time
8 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
Yes
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Medichecks.

Alcohol consumption

  • Phosphatidylethanol

About this test

This test measures phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a marker that is only produced when alcohol has been consumed. It is commonly used to assess alcohol intake over roughly the preceding two to four weeks. PEth is different from markers such as CDT because it is only produced when alcohol has been consumed rather than being affected by liver disease or genetic factors, which is why it is used for medical, legal and workplace alcohol monitoring.

We do not have a comparison group of similar tests to benchmark this one against directly, so it is considered here on its own facts rather than against named peers.

Value for money scores around the middle of the range, since £199 is about 24% above the £160 median for the 8 similarly sized toxicology tests we track. Collection convenience scores well because it can be done at home with a finger-prick kit as well as at a clinic or via a home nurse visit, with results back in around 8 days. Trust signals and results and follow-up both score well, reflecting Medichecks' Trustpilot rating, accredited partner labs and doctor review as standard.

Who is it for?

This suits anyone who needs a PEth alcohol marker test for personal, medical, legal or workplace purposes and wants the flexibility to test at home rather than only at a clinic.

We do not track a comparable PEth test from another provider to suggest as a cheaper alternative.

How it works

You can collect a sample at home with a finger-prick kit, or have a venous blood draw at an in-store clinic or via a home nurse visit. Medichecks states results are returned in around 8 days, with a doctor's comment included as standard.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • At-home finger-prick option available alongside clinic testing
  • Doctor's comment included with every result
  • Measures a marker not affected by liver disease or genetic factors, unlike CDT

Cons

  • Priced about 24% above the £160 median for similarly sized toxicology tests we track
  • Turnaround of around 8 days is longer than some other single-marker Medichecks tests

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score At-home PEth alcohol marker test, 8-day turnaround
Editorial confidence: 10.0/10

This single-marker test measures phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a marker of alcohol intake over the past two to four weeks, for £199. It can be done at home with a finger-prick kit or at a clinic, with results back in around 8 days and a doctor's comment included; we do not track a directly comparable PEth test to weigh the price against.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 8.0/10

    The listing publishes a short description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 7.2/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 44th percentile of toxicology tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 8.0/10

    A finger-prick sample you take at home; with a venous or clinic option as well; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 8 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 7.0/10

    Results are reviewed by a doctor; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 9.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.5 from 2,477 reviews; accredited lab (UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs); doctor review as standard; trading 25+ years.

  • Value for money 5.3/10

    £199.00 against a median of £160.00 for the 8 similarly sized toxicology tests we track (+24%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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