Researchers may have discovered a more accurate way to determine a baby's exposure to alcohol. "In this study, we have found a direct association between the presence of certain fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and alcohol use," said study author Dr. Enrique M. Ostrea Jr., professor of pediatrics at Wayne State's School of Medicine. Mothers and their newborn babies were studied to compare FAEEs in the baby\'s meconium to the mother\'s response to alcohol use while pregnant. The researchers concluded that testing for FAEEs is a significant advancement in diagnosing and treating infants exposed to alcohol in the womb. Testing for FAEEs \"would allow early identification and treatment for children born with fetal alcohol effects who might otherwise not be recognized, particularly if the mother does not admit to drinking,\" Ostrea said.