The Alcohol Profile is a blood test that looks at how your liver and blood cells are responding to alcohol, alongside two markers, PEth and CDT, that can indicate heavier drinking over recent weeks. It suits anyone who wants an objective picture of their drinking, whether for their own reassurance, a health check, or a professional requirement. The test costs £261.25, plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results back in 5-7 days. You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week.
Doctors and employers sometimes ask for this profile to support a health assessment, an occupational requirement, or a legal process where evidence of drinking habits is needed.
People also book it themselves after a period of heavier drinking, to see whether it has started to affect their liver, or simply to have an honest, private check before making changes.
It can be useful alongside monitoring for a known liver condition, or when a GP has raised a concern about alcohol during a routine consultation.
Most people do not need to fast before this test and can eat and drink normally beforehand, with the exception of alcohol itself, which will affect the alcohol level result. Follow any specific instruction from your doctor or the organisation requesting the test, and tell the phlebotomist if you have had a drink in the hours before your appointment.
A raised PEth or CDT result commonly points to a pattern of heavier drinking in the weeks before the test, while changes in liver enzymes can reflect strain on the liver from a range of causes, not alcohol alone. A raised MCV can also have causes unrelated to drinking.
These results need to be read alongside your history and how much you actually drink, so they are best discussed with a doctor rather than interpreted on their own. If a marker sits well outside the expected range, arrange to see your GP or one of our doctors.
If you would like a doctor to request the right tests for your symptoms or talk the report through, book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 24/09/2026.
No single blood test can diagnose alcoholic liver disease on its own. This profile can flag markers that need further assessment, and a doctor would use your history, an examination and often a scan to reach a diagnosis.
PEth can stay raised for several weeks after a period of drinking, which is why it is used to look at recent patterns rather than a single drink. Your laboratory report will show how your result compares with the reference range.
You do not need to stop drinking to have the test, but recent alcohol intake will affect the alcohol level reading specifically. Tell the phlebotomist when you last had a drink so this can be noted.
Yes, people often book this profile to support an occupational health check or a legal process. Ask our team beforehand if the report needs to be formatted or witnessed in a particular way.