Towards a Wearable Alcohol Biosensor: Examining the Accuracy of BAC Estimates From New-Generation Transdermal Technology Using Large-Scale Human Testing and Machine Learning Algorithms
Who can join
Ages 21 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 21 years or older * drink alcohol at least 2x weekly Exclusion Criteria: * psychological or medical conditions that might contraindicate alcohol-administration * history of adverse reaction to type and amount of beverage used in the study * currently seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder * does not drink alcohol regularly * taking drugs or medications for which alcohol consumption would be contraindicated * women who are pregnant or are attempting to become pregnant
About the study
The study will employ a combined laboratory-ambulatory design. Participants will engage in ambulatory assessment over the course of 14 days, wearing biosensors assessing transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) and providing breathalyzer readings in real-world contexts. Also during this period, participants will attend three laboratory alcohol-administration sessions scheduled at one-week intervals, with alcohol dose and rate of consumption manipulated within and between participants, respectively. Laboratory visits will also double as ambulatory orientation, check-in, and close-out sessions.
What is being tested
- Alcohol (drug)
Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · Participants: 240 · Started: Oct 22, 2022
Contact the study team
- Catharine Fairbairn, PhD · Phone: 217-300-5850
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05692830
Locations in the U.S.
| Illinois | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.