Alcohol use screening tests are short questionnaires about drinking patterns and their effects, used to identify unhealthy alcohol use and the need for further assessment.
Screening tools ask how often and how much a person drinks and whether drinking has caused problems. Examples include the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and its shorter version, AUDIT-C. The questions may be asked during routine care or when alcohol could be affecting health.
No. A blood alcohol test measures ethanol in the blood at one point in time. An alcohol use questionnaire looks for a pattern of drinking and its effects over time.
A positive screen does not diagnose alcohol use disorder. It means the answers suggest that more discussion or assessment would be useful. Follow-up may include more detailed questions, brief support to reduce risk, or an assessment for treatment.

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