27th of June 2025
Round 6 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Results were just Reported
We just sent out the results from the sixt round of our inter-laboratory comparison, including 20 participants from all around the globe. We thank all the laboratories for their participation.
19th of June 2025
Phosphatidylethanol Makes Headlines in Finland
To read the whole article please have a look here.
Summary: PEth Testing at Work in Finland Raises Ethical and Legal Concerns
PEth (Phosphatidylethanol) testing, which detects alcohol use over several weeks, is increasingly used in occupational health care in Finland—often without informed consent. The test has caused confusion and concern among employees, some of whom have faced work suspensions, salary cuts, or even termination due to elevated results from alcohol consumed during personal time.
Experts like Dr. Riitta Työläjärvi (SAK) and Harri Pasanen (Finnish Transport Workers’ Union) criticize the practice, warning that the test’s misuse—especially without prior information—can lead to unreasonable consequences, including unjustified financial hardship. They emphasize that a PEth result does not prove intoxication or impaired work performance and argue for clear, pre-agreed protocols and support-oriented approaches.
In contrast, Dr. Auli Rytivaara from the Confederation of Finnish Industries defends the test, especially in safety-critical sectors such as transport and construction. She argues that while the test doesn’t show immediate intoxication, it reliably indicates risky long-term alcohol use and helps protect workplace safety.
All sides agree that the lack of legal clarity and consistent implementation is problematic. Experts call for transparent rules, informed consent, and clear communication to prevent misuse and safeguard both employee rights and workplace safety.
14th of May 2025
Registration for the 7th Round of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison is Open
The following applies for the comparison:
-Registration finishes 3rd of October 2025
-Devices must be shipped before the 17th of October 2025
-Samples are returned mid October 2025
-Results must be submitted until mid December 2025
8th of May 2025
Round 6 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison has started
The team at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland, has successfully prepared and dispatched the samples for Round 6 of the inter-laboratory comparison.
22nd of April 2025
PEth-NET at the EWDTS Conference
PEth-NET was represented at the 2025 European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS) Conference, held in Barcelona on April 10–11. Marc Luginbühl, President of PEth-NET, delivered a well-received presentation titled “Phosphatidylethanol Analysis: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Considerations” to an audience of 115 attendees.
8th of January 2025
How We Could Test for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Before It’s Too Late
A new study lead by PEth-NET member Judith Hahn finds that a blood test may be a more reliable indicator of liver disease than asking how much a person drinks.
A press release is available here: How We Could Test for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Before It’s Too Late | UC San Francisco
The publication is available here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39480054/
20th of December 2024
PEth-NET Becomes a Member of the European Federation of Addiction Societies (EUFAS)
Following an internal discussion within the PEth-NET Board, Frieder Wurst, Vice President of PEth-NET, submitted an application on behalf of our Society for membership in the European Federation of Addiction Societies (EUFAS), where he also serves as Treasurer. After successfully presenting our application during the Executive Board Meeting and the General Assembly of EUFAS in October, Prof. Colin Drummond, President of EUFAS, officially confirmed that PEth-NET meets the membership criteria and has been accepted as a member of EUFAS. As a member, PEth-NET will be represented by Frieder Wurst and will hold all the rights and responsibilities of membership, including voting rights in the General Assembly. This membership marks a significant step forward in enhancing the visibility of PEth-NET and paves the way for extensive opportunities for future collaboration within the European addiction research and treatment community. Further details about EUFAS can be found at the webpage: https://www.eufas.net
19th of December 2024
The Inter-Laboratory Comparison will continue in 2025
There will be a continuation of the Inter-Laboratory Program in 2025, where two rounds are scheduled to follow the same format as previous years. The dates are outlined below, registration is open now for round 2025/1:
Round 2025/1
Registration deadline: April 11, 2025
Device shipment: By April 25, 2025
Spotting cards and shipping: End of April/early May (target week: April 28–May 2).
Participant results: Due by mid-June.
Round 2025/2
Registration deadline: October 3, 2025.
Device shipment: By October 17, 2025.
Spotting cards and shipping: Mid-October (target week: October 20–24).
Participant results: Due by mid-December
19th of December 2024
Round 5 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Results were just Reported
We just sent out the results from the fifth round of our inter-laboratory comparison, including 17 participants from all around the globe. We thank all the laboratories for their participation.
23rd of October 2024
Round 5 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison has started
The team at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland, has successfully prepared and dispatched the samples for Round 5 of the inter-laboratory comparison.
PEth Research Presented at DGVM/DGVP 2024
At this year’s DGVM/DGVP conference in Freiburg im Breisgau, Josefine Herzog from the “Forensic Toxicology Center Munich (FTC)” presented a poster on Initial Experiences with PEth Concentrations in Cases from Driving Fitness Assessments. The study examined drinking habits in relation to PEth levels and evaluated a threshold of 80 ng/mL (plus a 20 ng/mL safety margin).
6th of September 2024
PEth Research Presented at TIAFT 2024
The 2024 TIAFT conference was hosted in St. Gallen, Switzerland. A selection of presentations and posters are presented below:
Matthias Bantle from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern presented about the “comparison of PEth in blood and ethyl glucuronide in hair in driving aptitude assessment”.
Christine Snozek from the Mayo Clinic Arizona presented novel results about the “characterization of the alcohol biomarker phosphatidylethanol in donor whole blood and apheresis red blood cells”
Various posters from different groups were presented. Additional information about the contributions is available in the 2024 TIAFT abstract booklet.
16th of August 2024
Inter-Laboratory Comparison Publication
The article about the PEth-NET “Interlaboratory comparison of phosphatidylethanol in dried blood spots using different sampling devices” is now available as open access publication in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis.
29th of July 2024
The 2024 PEth in Mind Conference Report is available
The congress report for the 2024 PEth in Mind Conference was just published in the TIAFT bulletin Volume LIV Number 2.
5th of June
The 2024 PEth in Mind Conference was a Success
Forty participants with forensic and clinical backgrounds from nine different countries attended the 2024 PEth in Mind conference of the Society of PEth Research (PEth-NET). The two-day conference was held in Lucerne, Switzerland, and featured 19 presentations and two workshop sessions, where novel innovations and the international harmonization of PEth results were discussed.
Regarding the composition of the PEth-NET board, Wolfgang Weinmann from the University of Bern was elected to replace the retiring treasurer, Marion Luginbühl, at the beginning of 2025 . The next in-person meeting of PEth-NET is planned to take place in 2026
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals who contributed to the realization of this meeting.
4th of June 2024
Swiss Newspapers are Writing about the 2024 PEth in Mind Meeting
1st of June 2024
2024 PEth-NET Award Recipients
The 2024 PEth-NET Awards at the 2024 PEth in Mind Conference in Lucerne honored Christina Ververi for the best presentation and Matthias Bantle for the best innovation.
Christina Ververi’s talk, titled “Towards the Implementation of a PEth Reference Measurement System: Setting Up a Reference Measurement Procedure,” focused on establishing a gravimetry based procedure to prepare calibration and quality control samples.
Matthias Bantle presented important work for the future of PEth research with his talk titled “Lyso-Phosphatidylethanol: Another Marker for Alcohol Consumption Monitoring?”
6th of May 2024
2024 PEth in Mind Conference City Tours
We are excited to announce that we will be offering a guided city tour to complement the cultural journey in Lucerne, during the 2024 PEth in Mind conference.
It presents a wonderful opportunity to explore the vibrant city of Lucerne, as we navigate through its historical landmarks and hidden gems.
To secure your spot for the guided city tour, please register through the provided link here (2024 PEth in Mind City Tour – PEth-NETPEth-NET) or visit the conference webpage. Additionally, we extend a warm invitation to accompanying persons to join in on the tour.
Registration for the city tour closes on the 15th of May 2024.
26th of April 2024
Round 4 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison has started
The team at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland, has meticulously prepared the samples, ensuring their readiness for shipment.
19th of April 2024
The 2024 PEth in Mind registration will close soon
Registrations for the 2024 PEth in Mind conference in Lucerne will close on the 1st of May. We encourage all eager participants to secure their spots by completing registration before this cutoff date.
22nd of March 2024
The 2024 PEth in Mind Abstract Booklet is Available
The 2024 PEth in Mind Abstract Booklet provides a glimpse into the presentations and research of this year’s conference.
For those eager to delve into the insights shared at the 2024 PEth in Mind Conference, we are pleased to offer the abstract booklet as a free download.
The 2024 PEth in Mind Scientific Abstracts are Available
Besides the keynote presentations presented on the conference webpage, the scientific abstracts are now available.
26th of January 2024
The 2024 PEth in Mind Conference Schedule is available
The upcoming conference will showcase a total of 19 talks presented by 16 distinct speakers. In addition, we are proud to host both an Innovation Workshop and a Harmonization Workshop.
The Early Bird registration will close on the 14th of February.
23rd of January 2024
The Inter-Laboratory Comparison will continue in 2024
Round 1/2024
-Registration finishes 5th of April 2024
-Devices must be shipped before the 19th of April 2024
-Samples are returned at the end of April 2024
-Results must be submitted until mid June 2024
Round 2/2024
Registration finishes 27th of September 2024
-Devices must be shipped before the 11th of October 2024
-Samples are returned mid October 2024
-Results must be submitted until mid December 2024
22nd of December 2023
Round 3 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Results were just Reported
We just sent out the results from the third round of our inter-laboratory comparison, including 20 participants from all around the globe. We thank all the laboratories for their participation.
24th November 2023
Abstract deadline is approaching
The abstract submission deadline for the 2024 PEth in Mind conference is swiftly approaching. Submissions will be closing on December 20th.
Our upcoming PEth-NET conference will once again serve as an important platform for scholars, researchers, and professionals in our field to come together, exchange ideas, and present the latest research findings.
Participation and contribution at the conference will play a vital role in shaping the discussions and advancements within our community.
For detailed information on abstract submission guidelines and conference details, please visit the conference webpage: 2024 PEth in Mind Conference – PEth-NETPEth-NET
November 2023
Round 3 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison has started
The samples were prepared by the team of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland, and were shipped on the 8th of November.
2nd of October 2023
Travel Award Deadline Extension
The deadline for travel award applications for the 2024 PEth in Mind Conference has been extended to November 1, 2023. Don’t miss out on this chance to present your work and compete for this prestigious grant!
11th of September 2023
Accreditation of Continuing Education
The Swiss Society of Forensic Medicine (SGRM) awards participants of the 2024 conference one credit per hour (45 – 60 minutes). A total of 11 credits may be credited for participation in the entire scientific program.
31st of July 2023
The PEth in Mind Conference will return in 2024
Dear esteemed colleagues and professionals,
We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to the upcoming PEth-NET Conference in 2024, taking place in the picturesque city of Lucerne! We aim to bring together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts in the field of PEth to foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration.
Conference Details
Event: PEth in Mind 2024
Date: 31st of May and 1st of June 2024
Location: Lucerne, Switzerland
Why should you attend the PEth in Mind 2024 conference?
-Cutting-edge research: Stay at the forefront of PEth research and advancements through presentations and panel discussions.
-Networking opportunities: Connect with fellow professionals and researchers in various fields of PEth research
-Explore Lucerne: Experience the breathtaking beauty and cultural richness of Lucerne, surrounded by the stunning Swiss Alps, making it an unforgettable destination for leisure and learning.
Registration details
Abstract submission and registration is now open. We welcome submissions of original research in all areas of PEth application. Day one of the conference will focus on the technical aspects of PEth analysis and harmonization. Day two will focus on clinical applications of PEth research and applications. To register and explore more about the conference, please visit the conference webpage.
Conference awards
The Society of PEth Research is excited to continue the tradition of presenting two prestigious awards: the Best Presentation Award and the Best Innovation Award. All conference speakers will automatically be considered for these esteemed awards.
Travel awards in collaboration with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
In our commitment to supporting young scientists, we are excited to announce that we will be offering five travel awards in collaboration with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF). Each award is worth up to 1000.- and will be granted to deserving young researchers to help cover travel expenses for attending the PEth-NET Conference in 2024. For students and young professionals, this conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to interact and open doors for future career growth.
We look forward to welcoming you to Lucerne and creating lasting memories together. Should you have any inquiries or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at contact(at)peth-net.org
Best regards,
The PEth-NET Conference Organizing Committee:
Marc Luginbühl, Frieder Wurst, Frederike Stöth & Wolfgang Weinmann
5th of July 2023
Registration for the 3rd PEth-NET Inter-Laboratory Comparison is now Open
Samples for the third round of the inter-laboratory testing will ship at the end of October 2023. Once again, four authentic samples will be provided by IRM BE on the sampling device of the participant’s choice (must be shipped to IRM BE after the registration, must be a microsampling device). The following costs will apply for participants:
Within Europe, without tracked shipment: 100.-
Out of Europe, (tracked shipment option, express): 200.-
Registration closes 30th of September 2023.
20th of June, 2023
Round 2 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Results were just Reported
We just sent out the results from the second round of our inter-laboratory comparison, including 19 participants from all around the globe. We thank all the laboratories for their participation.
28th of April, 2023
Round 2 of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Samples are ready for Shipment
During round 2, 19 different laboratories will participate in the inter-laboratory comparison. The samples were prepared today by the team of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland. They will soon arrive at the participating laboratories.
26th of January, 2023
Registration for the 2nd PEth-NET Inter-Laboratory Comparison is now Open
Samples for the second round of the inter-laboratory testing will ship during the week of the 24th of April 2023. Once again, four authentic samples will be provided by IRM BE on the sampling device of the participant’s choice (must be shipped to IRM BE after the registration, must be a microsampling device). The following costs will apply for participants:
Within Europe, without tracked shipment: 100.-
Out of Europe, (tracked shipment option, express): 200.-
Registration closes 14th of April 2023
29th November 2022
Inter-Laboratory Comparison Samples are ready for Shipment
The inter-laboratory comparison samples were prepared today by the team of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland. They will soon arrive at the participating laboratories.
16th November 2022
New Domain Added
In addition to our standard domain, we can now be reached using www.phosphatidylethanol.com
Registration for the 2022 PEth-NET Inter-Laboratory Comparison is now Open
We successfully finished the evaluation and the planning of the upcoming PEth-NET inter-laboratory comparison. Thank you very much for the positive and numerous pre-registrations that we received.
PEth-NET decided to collaborate with the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern (IRM BE) for the provision of blood samples and further logistics of the inter-laboratory comparison. In the first evaluation round, four different authentic whole blood samples will be provided to each participating laboratory, on microsampling devices. To prepare the individual samples, each participating laboratory is asked to ship the sampling device of their choice to IRM BE, to spot a selected choice of blood (e.g. 10-25 µL). For logistical reasons, only laboratories using devices that do not require any cooling during the transportation process (e.g. DBS cards, Mitra VAMS, etc.) are eligible for participation in the proficiency testing. A handling fee of 100 Swiss Francs will apply for the first round of inter-laboratory comparison. This fee includes shipment, handling, and evaluation costs. The payment must be directed to PEth-NET by using the enclosed payment slip which you will receive with your sample delivery.
To register for the first round of the inter-laboratory comparison please fill out the participation form online and directly send the microsampling devices of choice (routinely used in your laboratory) to: Institute of Forensic Medicine Bern, Matthias Bantle, Murtenstrasse 26, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
The individual blood samples will be provided in duplicate (a total of eight samples will be sent to each participating laboratory). To have one spare device, please provide at least 5 DBS cards or 10 VAMS samples for the preparation of your samples.
The evaluation and the provision of results are realized in an anonymized fashion (the same is true for potential scientific publications and presentations about the project). Each participating laboratory will receive an individual number within the inter-laboratory comparison scheme, which ensures their privacy.
The samples will be spotted and shipped in week 48 (28.11. -02.12.2022). Therefore, the sampling devices must reach the IRM BE before Friday the 25th of November 2022.
We’re hoping for numerous participants and wish you a pleasant rest of the week.
The board of PEth-NET
PEth Posters at the 59th TIAFT Meeting in Versailles, France
PEth-NET member Julien Deglon presented a poster about the in-vial DBS extraction followed by LC-HRMS measurement
5-8th of September 2022
PEth-NET Presentations at the 59th TIAFT Meeting in Versailles, France
PEth-NET member Christina Ververi during her presentation about Phosphatidylethanol in Dried Blood Spots: development, validation and comparison between LC-MS/MS and QTOF methods.
PEth-NET Scientific Board Member Prof. Wolfgang Weinmann presented about the Optimization of DBS-self sampling for PEth in a drinking experiment with standard DBS cards and with a new design of volumetric DBS card
PEth-NET member Catalina Dumitrascu presented about Phosphatidylethanol in whole blood: a complementary biomarker to ethyl glucuronide in hair
PEth-NET member Florian Hakim presented about the Added value evidence of a simultaneous determination of two phosphatidylethanol isoforms and ethylglucuronide in dried blood spots in forensic contexts
29th of August 2022
PEth-NET at the 23rd International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) Conference
During the session “PEth and other biochemical markers of alcohol use and their role in prevention of drink driving” chaired by Dr. Majda Zorec and Prof. Wolfgang Weinmann the application of PEth and its interpretation based on the 2022 Consensus of Basel was presented to a broad audience.
The following presentations were held:
1.) Introduction to PEth as a direct alcohol biomarker by Prof. Wolfgang Weinmann
2.) Acute (EtG) and chronic (PEth) alcohol biomarkers for the evaluation of risky drinking by Dr. Michael Böttcher
3.) The instrumental analysis of phosphatidylethanol: from the sample to the result by Dr. Marc Luginbühl
4.) The use of phosphatidylethanol in the driver’s license regranting process by Katleen Van Uytfanghe
25th of July 2022
The 2022 Consensus of Basel for the Harmonization of PEth is Released
The harmonization document is published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis under the title “Consensus for the use of the alcohol biomarker phosphatidylethanol (PEth) for the assessment of abstinence and alcohol consumption in clinical and forensic practice (2022 Consensus of Basel)”.
29th of June 2022
The 2022 Congress Report is now available
The congress report for the 2022 PEth in Mind Meeting has just been released in the TIAFT Bulletin.
28th of June 2022
The 2022 Consensus of Basel got accepted for publication at Drug Testing and Analysis
25th May 2022
The 2022 PEth in Mind recordings are available on Youtube
For the ones who could not attend the meeting, we prepared recordings of the two keynote presentations and the 9 scientific session presentations. These recordings are now available on our PEth-NET Youtube channel.
23rd May 2022
2022 PEth-NET Award Winners
Congratulations to this year’s PEth-NET award winners:
2022 PEth-NET Best Presentation Award: John Roache, UT Health – San Antonio, TX, USA
2022 PEth-NET Best Innovation Award: Katleen van Uytfanghe, Laboratory for Toxicology – University of Ghent, Belgium
21st April 2022
General Assembly 2022
A general assembly will be held on the second day of the conference (20th of May 2022), as foreseen by the society’s article of incorporation. For the sake of continuity, we suggest proceeding with the current board members. In case further suggestions are made, we encourage you to send any proposals according to the society’s bylaw two weeks in advance of the business meeting.
18th March 2022
The 2022 PEth in Mind Conference Program is now available
The conference program for the scientific session and the laboratory presentation is now available online.
The 2022 PEth in Mind Conference will offer a total of 9 scientific presentations during the morning of the first day (12 min of presentation + 3 min Q&A). Please follow this link to see the scientific abstracts.
In the afternoon we will have a total of 11 laboratory presentations (17 min of presentation + 3 min Q&A). Please follow this link to see the laboratory abstracts.
We are looking forward to stimulating scientific discussions, and interesting personal talks.
15th March 2022
The 2022 PEth in Mind Conference is SOLD OUT
22nd December
The 2022 PEth in Mind Conference
We are pleased to announce that the registration and abstract submission for the 2022 PEth-NET meeting is now open by following this link.
2nd December
2022 Meeting
The Society of PEth Research (PEth-NET) will host its 2022 conference under the title “PEth in Mind” on the 19th & 20th of May 2022 in Basel, Switzerland. Registration is prescheduled to open on the 22nd of December, spaces are limited.
July 1st
PEth-NET is featured in the TIAFT bulletin
A congress report about the past PEth-NET Online Session was printed in the TIAFT (The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists) bulletin in June 2021.
The PEth-NET Trophy
Based on the appreciated evaluation by the scientific board members, the result is clear and the winners are as follows:
PEth-NET Best Presentation Award
Katleen Van Uytfanghe
PEth-NET Best Innovation Award
Marc Luginbühl
Congratulation for the highly deserved awards and big thank you for all presentations and evaluations.
15th March
The 2021 PEth-NET Online-Session Videos are now online
All presentations can be viewed on the PEth-NET Youtube channel by following the link below:
–>Link to PEth-NET Youtube channel
10th March
The PEth-NET Forum is here
To discuss topics raised at the 2021 Spring PEth-NET Online-Session, we launched a password protected forum on www.PEth-net.org
05th March 2021
The login links were sent by email
In case that you did not receive your login link for the 2021 Spring PEth-NET Online-Session, please contact PEth-NET using the contact form.
We are looking forward to an inspiring meeting and remain with best wishes
The board of PEth-NET
2nd February 2021
The PEth-NET Trophy
In addition to 11 scientific presentations during the upcoming meeting about the direct alcohol marker Phosphatidylethanol, there are two trophies to win for the presenters: The scientific advisory board members will honor two outstanding contributions presented at the PEth-NET spring meeting with the “Best Presentation Award” and the “Best Innovation Award”.
15th January 2021
The 2021 Spring PEth-NET Online-Session is here
12th January 2021
Abstract Notifications are out
The board just finished reviewing the submissions for the upcoming “2021 Spring PEth-NET Online Session” and sent abstract notifications. We are looking forward to a total of 11 presentations from all over the world.
The meeting will commence 9th March, 16:00 CET
4th January 2021
Abstract Submission Window has Closed
The Board is currently reviewing the abstracts and preparing the meeting. We are looking forward to a fruitful meeting and wish you a Happy New Year!
30th November 2020
Abstract Deadline is Approaching!
20th November 2020
Membership numbers are increasing steadily
One month after it was founded, the Society of PEth Research has already reached 15 members. We are looking forward to a prosperous 2021 and a successful Spring PEth-NET Online-Session.
-M
8th October 2020
We are now accepting abstracts!
6th October 2020
The Society of PEth Research is here!
What has been an idea for years has become a reality. PEth-NET is here!
PEth-NET, because it’s a network for PEth enthusiasts
The Society of PEth Research was founded in October 2020 and offers a platform for individuals who perform the analysis and results’ interpretation of Phosphatidylethanol in human blood. We are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with individuals around the globe.
-M