Acetaldehyde adducts of hemoglobin could be used as biomarkers for alcohol exposure. Liquid chromatography coupled time-of-flight mass spectrometry can be used to investigate changing concentrations of these adducts in alcohol detoxification patients. Tests on samples from 66 alcohol-dependent adults reveal the technique’s sensitivity to acetaldehyde-modified hemoglobin peptides. However, the study also showed that elevated levels are seen only if alcohol has been consumed within five days of sampling. This suggests that the biomarkers are useful only for testing for recent alcohol use.

• Application of LC–TOF MS to analysis of hemoglobin acetaldehyde adducts in alcohol detoxification patients
  S. W. Toennes, M. G. Wagner, G. F. Kauert,
  Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2010, online;
  DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-3931-1