CDT Test (Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin)

[Paulisme]

There is still a traffic light system for their testing, but there now appears to be 2 even lower tiers. 1.6% or less for those classified as alcohol misuse, and under 1% for those classed as Alcohol dependent. ‘Ordinary‘ offenders could still come under the original red amber green categories.......

Thanks for your reply buddy.... oh, they don't say that then do they, that there's another level for the others (misuse, dep) ... anyway had my test yesterday, big needle, yuck lol, doc seemed ok, he seemed more bothered about me having a cold and wanted me to get tested for covid-19 ... he made me touch my nose and also follow and touch his finger, he touch my belly in places, he said i was fit for my age.... stop drinking for 32 days before hand, so i think my CDT level will be well below 1% tbh

 

[price1367]

The finger thing is testing for Gaze Nystagmus, which is a sign of impairment.
The touching of belly will be him feeling for an enlarged liver. It is usually protected by your rib cage but if it is enlarged then it protrudes into your abdomen And can be felt.

 

[C J 1980]

The doctor may be checking your stomach for signs of Ascites which is a condition caused by alcoholism or years of heavy drinking.

CJ

 

[Paulisme]

The finger thing is testing for Gaze Nystagmus, which is a sign of impairment.
The touching of belly will be him feeling for an enlarged liver. It is usually protected by your rib cage but if it is enlarged then it protrudes into your abdomen And can be felt.

Thanks for that, he said i was fit, so who knows eh?

 

[Paulisme]

The doctor may be checking your stomach for signs of Ascites which is a condition caused by alcoholism or years of heavy drinking.

CJ

thx for that too, he did say i was fit.... maybe a good sign, he also said he wished me well for me dvla review

 

[Deleted member 12231]

Looking for some general advice of reassurance without judgement - please remember drinking isn’t illegal but drink driving is - I Just want some advice.

basically I’ve moved house and I didn’t go back to collect old post for a while and where I actually don’t drink everyday at all I go to the gym etc I have had two “ binging “ sessions of drinking in the last two weeks due to birthdays and celebrations. They were quite heavy drinking sessions.

My cdt test is in roughly 16 days OBVIOUSLY I won’t be drinking at all during this time but I’m seriously worried that my last two weekends of over indulging are going to affect the results , I have seen posts where people admit they had some binging sessions up to the test and passed.

i just hope 16 days will be enough, I have never been someone who drinks everyday and previous to my two weekends of drinking is I’d binge every other weekend.

i think I should be ok, I expect it will be a slightly higher reading but not reach the 2.1% if I abstain for the whole 16 days? What do people think? Am I being overly anxious and worried?????

after a backpacking once I mentioned shaking and the doctor said it was due to drinking too much hopefully that wouldn’t be noted and then once after a holiday I had a stomach ulcer what they put down to alcohol and spicy food, again I hope that isn’t something that puts the Dvla off me. I have some history of depression and Anti depressant intake however in the last year or more I’ve turned around my life but I stilll like anyone my age go o it for drinks on Saturday nights and probably drink A bit too much but I’m not a bar person. I’m hoping a few binge weekends won’t ruin it for me, I could possibly try and cancel and make an excuse to prolong my time till the test?

 

[Battybird72]

thx for that too, he did say i was fit.... maybe a good sign, he also said he wished me well for me dvla review

Hi Paulisme

I was charged two days ago for DD. As I blew 89 I am now HRO (something I have learned from the past two days of trawling this site). I found a copy of the DD2 form that your GP has to fill in. Don’t know if it helps. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/requ...R8030 DD2 attachment.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1.
As a new member to this site I want to thank all of you who have posted and been honest with your stories and views. I am only 2 days into this and yet have to go to court and lose my licence. I feel this site will become my aide for many months to come. Take care everyone.

 

[Deleted member 12231]

Hi Paulisme

I was charged two days ago for DD. As I blew 89 I am now HRO (something I have learned from the past two days of trawling this site). I found a copy of the DD2 form that your GP has to fill in. Don’t know if it helps. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/616818/response/1476831/attach/7/FOIR8030 DD2 attachment.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1.
As a new member to this site I want to thank all of you who have posted and been honest with your stories and views. I am only 2 days into this and yet have to go to court and lose my licence. I feel this site will become my aide for many months to come. Take care everyone.

Don’t worry we’ve all been there, It seems like the end of the world at the beginning but you get used to not driving and my two years have flown by.
HRO sucks as they give you community service which is degrading however it’s the punishment and you will never consider the same mistake again trust me I will never drive even the next day after drinking. Good luck with your court day and I hope they aren’t too harsh on you.

 

[Paulisme]

Hi Paulisme

I was charged two days ago for DD. As I blew 89 I am now HRO (something I have learned from the past two days of trawling this site). I found a copy of the DD2 form that your GP has to fill in. Don’t know if it helps. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/616818/response/1476831/attach/7/FOIR8030 DD2 attachment.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1.
As a new member to this site I want to thank all of you who have posted and been honest with your stories and views. I am only 2 days into this and yet have to go to court and lose my licence. I feel this site will become my aide for many months to come. Take care everyone.

many thanks for that, have never seen one of those..... well, it's very direct and does not give much leyway does it for the Doc.... My doc is defo not on side, he even stated to me I was on detox drugs for alcohol, which i was not! he will just say whatever he wants...

once again, many thanks

Paul

 

[Paulisme]

Don’t worry we’ve all been there, It seems like the end of the world at the beginning but you get used to not driving and my two years have flown by.
HRO sucks as they give you community service which is degrading however it’s the punishment and you will never consider the same mistake again trust me I will never drive even the next day after drinking. Good luck with your court day and I hope they aren’t too harsh on you.

https://healthresearchfunding.org/explanation-of-cdt-blood-test-results/ women have a bit of an easyier time than men with the CDT btw

 

[Kezier sozig]

Had my other results back from a private cdt....test at nuffield the 1st set were 0.8% but had to go back for a re-bleed..and in 2 weeks it dropped to 0.6% you can not get any lower than 0.6% right

 

[Deleted member 12231]

Had my other results back from a private cdt....test at nuffield the 1st set were 0.8% but had to go back for a re-bleed..and in 2 weeks it dropped to 0.6% you can not get any lower than 0.6% right

What were your drinking habits before the test any binges like myself ?

 

[Kezier sozig]

What were your drinking habits before the test any binges like myself ?

Not that bad really if am honest..but the doctor said I was dependent on alcohol so I had to wait the year out before I could reapply for licence agian joker... even tho I may have to abstain 4 life if dvla deem it necessary.. it only took me 2 months to get them results.. so like what's the ponit in dvla saying you need to abstain 4 life when you can just go the 2months without alcohol.. if they put you 9n a medical licence

 

[Deleted member 12231]

Not that bad really if am honest..but the doctor said I was dependent on alcohol so I had to wait the year out before I could reapply for licence agian joker... even tho I may have to abstain 4 life if dvla deem it necessary.. it only took me 2 months to get them results.. so like what's the ponit in dvla saying you need to abstain 4 life when you can just go the 2months without alcohol.. if they put you 9n a medical licence

Sorry who said you was dependent your doctor to the Dvla ??? Why would they say that, I’m worried about the questionnaire they give you if I put I’ve had a drink they will refuse me. I’m pretty sure my doctor has not reason to say I’m dependent I mean I had an ulcer once from bad alcohol and spicy food but I’ve never had like help for it or anything

 

[Kezier sozig]

Sorry who said you was dependent your doctor to the Dvla ??? Why would they say that, I’m worried about the questionnaire they give you if I put I’ve had a drink they will refuse me. I’m pretty sure my doctor has not reason to say I’m dependent I mean I had an ulcer once from bad alcohol and spicy food but I’ve never had like help for it or anything

The form that they send to you doctor is called A DD2 form and can be found online....

 

[Battybird72]

Don’t worry we’ve all been there, It seems like the end of the world at the beginning but you get used to not driving and my two years have flown by.
HRO sucks as they give you community service which is degrading however it’s the punishment and you will never consider the same mistake again trust me I will never drive even the next day after drinking. Good luck with your court day and I hope they aren’t too harsh on you.

Thank you Sweetie, your kind words mean a lot. You are so right - it does really feel like the end of the world. However, I was the one that chose to get behind the wheel so any punishment offered will be taken on the chin and I deserve what is given. I can’t even think of ever touching alcohol ever at the moment - I don’t have a drink problem and I was a social drinker and used to enjoy a couple of evenings a week down the pub with my family and friends. The court date cannot come quick enough. I anticipate telling my boss next week as I’m off this week - I won’t be able to use public transport for my job as the bus times don’t work out for me. I’m guessing I will have to hand my notice in. Driving those couple of hundred meters was the dumbest thing I ever, ever did.

 

[Deleted member 12231]

The form that they send to you doctor is called A DD2 form and can be found online....

looking at this form I have had a dependency on benzodiazepines for anxiety and anti depressants in the past but these don’t affect driving ( unless you over dose ) so I’m not sure if the GP will put down I’ve had a dependency as it says on anything that would harm the individual or others and mental fitness for driving ??? Surely any prescription drug could possibly do that if taken incorrectly so it’s a weird one ! But yes I was on diazepam for anxiety but am no longer ... so hmmmm! I’m not worried about the drinking part just this.

 

[price1367]

If you were prescribed the medication, and took them as prescribed the. It is not a ‘dependency’ as such... just that you were taking medication under the doctors supervision. So long as your GP confirms this then it should not be a problem with DVLA.

 

[Deleted member 12231]

If you were prescribed the medication, and took them as prescribed the. It is not a ‘dependency’ as such... just that you were taking medication under the doctors supervision. So long as your GP confirms this then it should not be a problem with DVLA.

I’ve just got off the phone to my doctor he has confirmed no alcohol dependency or misuse on my records however said the dependency of diazepam will have to be mentioned but they will advise I’ve been free of this medication for over a year and it was prescribed, the doctor was actually really nice and left notes for the GP who fills it out.

 

[Grantyone]

The 2.1 and 1.6 relates to ‘ordinary” people. You are in the “special” category of being alcohol dependent and this requires abstention from alcohol, permanently. You will be likely to get a temporary 1 year licence if you can show you have abstained, but will face the same process for 6 years.
As has been said, you need to show regular checks and test results from your GP for the past year before you even get a 1 year licence.
It is set out here:

Drug or alcohol misuse or dependence: assessing fitness to drive

Advice for medical professionals to follow when assessing drivers with drug or alcohol misuse or dependence.

www.gov.uk

Dependence confirmed by medical enquiry Also refer to alcohol related seizure below	✘- Must not drive and must notify the DVLA. Licence will be refused or revoked until after a minimum of 1 year free of alcohol problems. Abstinence is required, with normalised blood parameters if relevant.	✘- Must not drive and must notify the DVLA. Licence will be refused or revoked in all cases of any history of alcohol dependence within the past 3 years. Abstinence is required, with normalised blood parameters if relevant.
	For both driving groups: ■ licensing will require satisfactory medical reports from a doctor ■ the DVLA may need to arrange independent medical examination and blood tests ■ referral to and the support of a consultant specialist may be necessary.

Hi, so these tolerances are if you are classed as dependent or have alcohol issues? Or if you are a HRO?

For clarity, I am a HRO, but I am neither dependent or have issues and I have had my doctor confirm this last week. He told me as expected that there are no red flags on my medical history that would worry DVLA should they come calling.

My DVLA medical is next Friday and I don’t have any concerns. I completed a medichecks exam at the beginning of August and that came back 0.8.

Presuming I get something similar (last drink was 20th June) and they are happy with my entires on the questionnaire, there would be no reason to draw out the process (proof of no alcohol for 6 months etc)

I accept they may write to my GP - although other than further delay, I have no concerns with that.