The EtG test is used by many courts and probation departments to determine whether someone has violated a court order by drinking alcohol. It measures a substance called ethyl glucuronide (EtG) that remains in the urine for days after an individual has consumed alcohol.
The test is widely used in probative settings such as courts and jails but can be inaccurate in detecting ethanol consumption by some people. It can also lead to false positive results.
The most common reason for false positives is incidental exposure to ethanol. This can happen because of the use of a product that contains alcohol such as mouthwash or hand sanitizer. It can also occur because of the use of certain foods that are prone to producing a high level of EtS or EtG due to their fermented content.
Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid these false positives. For example, it is important to only purchase mouthwash and hand sanitizers that have been approved by the FDA for their safety and effectiveness. It is also important to make sure that the product has been properly stored so that the vapors are not absorbed by the skin, causing an increased level of EtG in the person’s urine.
A false positive can be especially damaging in criminal or judicial settings where total abstinence is required. It can put a person at risk of being detained or even arrested for violating a court order.
In addition to alcoholic products, there are a number of nonalcoholic items that can cause a positive result on an EtG or EtS test. These include food products containing alcohol or fermented ingredients, such as baker’s yeast with sugar, or even eating a banana that has been ripened and has a higher concentration of ethylene glycol than the fruit itself.
The cutoff for EtG tests is usually 500 ng/mL. This is a reasonable amount to detect recent alcohol intake. However, it is not enough to indicate a high risk of alcohol abuse.
Moreover, it is also not enough to confirm a negative result because EtG levels can be decreased after an individual has consumed alcohol or ingested an ethanol-containing product such as mouthwash.
Another important consideration is the time that a sample is collected. The test will be most accurate if it is taken within three days of the person’s last drink.
Other factors that can affect the accuracy of an EtG test are the bacterial degradation of EtG in urine after collection and the presence of a urinary tract infection. Keeping the specimen refrigerated and shipping it to the lab within three days will help reduce the likelihood of the test being false positive.
The use of an EtG test can be a useful tool in some workplaces, but it is important to understand its limitations and speak with a healthcare professional or toxicologist about using this method. It is also a good idea to use this method in combination with other methods such as breathalyzers to get an accurate picture of the employee’s alcohol consumption.
The most commonly used way of testing for alcohol is through a hair sample. It is one of the most accurate and reliable methods of detecting alcohol.
Hair contains a variety of metabolites that are produced when the body drinks alcohol. These metabolites are absorbed into the hair fibers and can remain there for up to 3-6 months.
Unlike urine and blood, hair can contain these metabolites for an extended period of time. This makes it an ideal option for screening alcohol use over a longer period.
In addition to the ethyl alcohol, the metabolites in hair also include fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) and ethyl glucuronide (EtG). FAEE and EtG are absorbed into the hair fibers through different routes, and their levels can be monitored to determine excessive consumption over a period of time.
These markers can be particularly useful in identifying patterns of alcohol abuse over a long period of time, as they can be affected by many factors including diet and environment.
A person can also be tested using a head hair shampoo, which involves bathing the subject's hair with a special solution that has ethanol-degrading enzymes. This method is often a quick and effective way to check for ethanol in hair, but it can be inaccurate and should not be relied upon solely.
Another option for testing for alcohol is through a portable breathalyzer. This is a common method in law enforcement and can be purchased at most drugstores and online retailers.
Regardless of the test used, it is important to abstain from drinking for at least 90 days before a hair alcohol test. This is to ensure that the detection window for a hair sample is wide enough to detect alcohol use, even if a person does not realize they are under the influence of alcohol at all.
For the most part, hair is collected from the head or arm, but some samples are taken from the chest and pubic areas. The samples are usually cut from the highest point of the scalp, which is called the vertex. Ideally, the sample should be around 200 individual strands.
The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will then determine the level of ethanol in the sample.
This type of test can also be combined with a saliva testing kit to confirm the results. This can be particularly useful in cases where a person is unable to provide a sample, such as in prison or during pregnancy.
Although it is more accurate than urinalysis or blood testing, alcohol can still be detected in a hair sample up to three months after the last drink. This means that it is an excellent choice for court-ordered alcohol testing and pre-employment tests.
However, it is important to note that it cannot distinguish between voluntary and involuntary consumption. This is due to a 'blind spot' that masks alcohol consumed up to 7 days before collection. This can lead to a positive result for a person who binges drinks on a regular basis.
While it is the most commonly used method to confirm alcohol abstinence, urine alcohol tests have some limitations. Compared to blood and breath alcohol tests, urine tests only show how much a person has consumed within a relatively short time frame.
For this reason, many programs that require people to stay sober use urine test results to monitor their adherence to a program. These include probation and parole programs, schools, sober living facilities, parents with custody or visitation with their children, and other organizations.
One problem with the EtG test is that it can produce false-positive results. This is because anything that contains trace amounts of ethanol can be a source of a positive result. In fact, a 2006 study found that people who used mouthwash that contained 12% alcohol could get a false-positive EtG urine test result.
This can lead to a number of problems and is why it is important to have a reliable, accurate lab that performs urine alcohol testing.
It is also important to remember that it takes about a week for ethanol to leave the body. Therefore, a breath or blood alcohol test can only tell you how much a person has drank within the last twelve hours.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s important to seek help immediately and avoid putting yourself or others at risk. It’s not worth risking your health and your future by drinking any amount of alcohol.
In addition to alcohol, urine tests can also be used to detect other drugs and substances such as amphetamines, benzodiazepines, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, and opioids (narcotics). While it’s important to note that these urine drug tests are not accurate measures of current impairment, they can be useful in some circumstances.
For example, an employer may require a urine drug test for a job applicant who has been convicted of DUI or other similar crimes in the past. An employer can then use the results of this test to determine whether or not that applicant is likely to have a job in the future.
Another reason why employers may choose to use a urine test for determining if an applicant has been abusing drugs is if the person has recently had medical treatment or a medical procedure. These can cause the person to have dilute urine, which may cause a low EtG or EtS level that could be mistaken for a positive EtG test.
Despite the shortcomings of the alcohol metabolite in the urine, it remains an effective and reliable way to verify recent alcohol use. Moreover, it is a more convenient and inexpensive method than other alcohol testing methods like blood or breath. It can even be administered at home or in an office if needed.
Paul J Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law | Criminal Attorney and DUI Lawyer
2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, United States
(248) 451-2200