In Algeria, The legal limit of BAC is 0,2g/L. This low rate justifies the use of sensitive and specific techniques to provide accurately results. The objectives are:

The procedure adopted to compare the two methods involves a duplicate analyzing of 11 whole blood samples loaded with pure ethanol, by enzymatic method after deproteinization and HS-CPG/FID without any pretreatment. The results are evaluated to estimate differences between the two methods. The postmortem samples of blood are analyzed by these methods in the context of toxicological expertise.

The application of the test Emit^®II Plus to whole blood after deproteination made of alcohol measurements by enzymatic method as reliable as those made by HS-CPG/FID with a coefficient of correlation equal 0.999. It is found that for concentrations lower than 0,55g/L, the results of both methods have a high level of similarity. From 0,55g/L, the enzymatic method tends to generate overestimation with an average of 0,13g/L. These overestimations are tolerable insofar as the subject remains under penalty of repression whatever the level of alcohol reached when the measured rate exceeds 0,2g/L. In the situation of analysis for alcohol in postmortem specimens, preanalytical error risks have been detected and complicated the interpretation of the alcohol concentrations.

This enzymatic method is an interesting alternative to the instrumental technique (GC) when the equipment is correctly calibrated and controlled and the results are correctly reported. However, the exclusive and uncritical use for forensic purposes is not recommended. Forensic toxicologists are called on to interpret the alcohol concentrations found in the specimens taking into account the risk of preanalytical errors.