Continued false positive CDT

Convicted Driver Insurance
Hi all, I'm still failing to get my licence back due to false positive CDT results. I have not had any alcohol for nearly two years ow but the DVLA are still refusing my licence even though I have provided a hair follicle sample and other evidence.

I have launched a complaint that is now sitting with the PHSO.

Any advice out there? I think I should try to persuade my GP to have my liver checked out for scarring etc?

Thanks.
 
Yes, you should get your doctor to thoroughly check your liver. Something is causing the high CDT test results and if you end up going to court you will want something more than “it isn’t alcohol, honestly.” If you ask nicely he may do his own CDT test, although your doctor may end up sending it to the same lab that DVLA use.
 
Yes, you should get your doctor to thoroughly check your liver. Something is causing the high CDT test results and if you end up going to court you will want something more than “it isn’t alcohol, honestly.” If you ask nicely he may do his own CDT test, although your doctor may end up sending it to the same lab that DVLA use.


Hi price1367. Thanks for responding. I asked a different GP a while back for a full liver investigation but she was reluctant. Am I in my rights to demand this do you know? I'm not going to march in there shouting or being rude but I want to know if I can politely insist ...
 
I doubt it on the NHS. If you go private, however, the world is your oyster and you can request any tests you want, up to the limit of your bank Balance........
 
I doubt it on the NHS. If you go private, however, the world is your oyster and you can request any tests you want, up to the limit of your bank Balance........

Ha. Yes. Rather poor right now as I can't work as the DVLA won't give me my licence back.

I'm sure I can request a test as the high CDT result would indicate the necessity for investigation perhaps?
 
Essentially no unfortunately.

Any healthcare professional can order any test even if it is prohibited by the CCG, but there has to be a clinical reason for it. Not being able to pass the DVLA test wouldn't qualify, which is also of course why you have to pay for the DVLA tests.

However, I don't think any test your GP can order will help much anyway. When they do the CDT test they also do a basic liver function test to balance the test against blocked bile ducts. For the test to give a "wrong" result after such a long time there are only usually three explanations.

1) End stage liver disease or COPD heart disease. You wouldn't need a test to tell you if that was the case.
2) You have an unusually high amount of D-transferrins in the blood. The CDT test checks for C-transferrins but about 0.01% of Caucasians have abnormally high levels of D-transferrins and this gives false positives on the test.
3) A disease called CDGS (Carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome) but that is rare, think lottery ticket rare.

Out of those (2) is obviously the most likely albeit still unlikely overall. However, even if your GP did the test and found you had elevated D-transferrins, it wouldn't help you much, because you would still need a doctor to write a letter explaining why the results make the CDT test unreliable - and again you would need to arrange that privately.
 
Essentially no unfortunately.

Any healthcare professional can order any test even if it is prohibited by the CCG, but there has to be a clinical reason for it. Not being able to pass the DVLA test wouldn't qualify, which is also of course why you have to pay for the DVLA tests.

However, I don't think any test your GP can order will help much anyway. When they do the CDT test they also do a basic liver function test to balance the test against blocked bile ducts. For the test to give a "wrong" result after such a long time there are only usually three explanations.

1) End stage liver disease or COPD heart disease. You wouldn't need a test to tell you if that was the case.
2) You have an unusually high amount of D-transferrins in the blood. The CDT test checks for C-transferrins but about 0.01% of Caucasians have abnormally high levels of D-transferrins and this gives false positives on the test.
3) A disease called CDGS (Carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome) but that is rare, think lottery ticket rare.

Out of those (2) is obviously the most likely albeit still unlikely overall. However, even if your GP did the test and found you had elevated D-transferrins, it wouldn't help you much, because you would still need a doctor to write a letter explaining why the results make the CDT test unreliable - and again you would need to arrange that privately.

Hi - thanks TipsyNurse. I have been told liver scarring can affect the results of the test also. Do you know if this is true?

One more question: Where would I find a specialist for this kind of thing? The DVLA have said "go forth and find yourself. No clues from us" effectively. So far, 90% of GPs have no idea what CDT is. Not a good start.
 
When I knew I was going to apply for my licence I went to the DR after being abstinent for 4 months for a liver function test, as my liver count was slightly high at that point he actually sent me for a scan, when I explained I needed to take a CDT test, my next blood test I had at 7 months abstinence showed all normal liver function, he sent for the upper abdominal scan in order I had a copy of the scan showing no liver damage or scarring to sent to the DVLA and take to the medical. If you ask GP im sure they will oblige.
 
Hi Loki,

Sorry, I missed the thread.

My opinion, with the proviso this is a very specialised area, is that you couldn't practically prove your liver function affected the test. That's because the test already includes a check on liver function. The DVLA have at some stage set the minimum liver function they will accept, and the CDT thresholds.

That means I think you would have to prove the entire test was unreliable rather than just your case.

Bearing in mind the DVLA never admit they are wrong even, as in my case, when you show them written proof they are wrong and a letter from the department manager admitting they know they are mistaken, I think you have such an uphill battle you will need ropes and Sherpas to get there.

If you did want to take it on you probably need to speak to a specialist motoring solicitor (NOT a general solicitor) as they usually have a black book with these sorts of contacts. Maybe you could call Sean to start with, I'm sure he'd at least give you a can do/can't do answer.
 
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