Comments on: Alcohol ETG Urine Test

By: walt d.

walt d. — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:57:40 +0000

Im on probation and am very afraid of thisETG test!!I do like to drink on ocasion!!I know most po,s do use this test I have been studying test results etc. for two days!!This is what I have determined.If your on probation dont drink!!Im going to jail cause i did!If you do drink 72 hours of flushing should do it!!

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:39:12 +0000

I am currently on drug court probation in IL where i am subject to ETG and all other types of drug and alcohol testing. Because of this i have done a lot of research on the ETG test and i think i can answer some of the questions here.
First, it does not test for alcohol directly, it tests for a marker that results in urine due to EXPOSURE to alcohol. You will get a positive result for any exposure within approximately 80 hrs from the time of the test. This time is approximate because everyone is different. Things like dehydration, kidney function, and metabolism will effect how long an individual will test positive after exposure. Also, the amount of alcohol you are exposed to has a small bearing on the time, but that really depends more on the cutoff for the test, which i will get into later.
Secondly, i say EXPOSURE to alcohol because u do not necessarily have to consume alcohol to test positive on the ETG test. Even epidermal (skin) exposure can cause a positive test result from things like hand sanitizer and mouthwash. This is called “incidental exposure”. Many other things can cause incidental exposure, such as, cold medicine, communion wine and certain foods or food additives like vanilla extract. This is where the cutoff is important. Others have mentioned positive levels of 700 or 500. This is very low. Many labs are now using 1000 as the cutoff and even advertising this as a “gold standard” for ETG testing. However, there is currently a class action law suit in the works against several of these testing facilities (including the one my probation office uses) because the cutoff for incidental and intentional exposure has NOT been accurately determined and many false positives or incidental exposures have been reported even at a level of 1000.
At current, all ETG tests are admissible in court. I myself have seen others sentenced to jail time for a positive ETG test. The class action suit in the works now is only a civil suit. However, I can tell u in IL they do not use this test for most people on probation and they will tell u if they are giving u the test. I myself get drug tested 3 times a week and have never had an ETG test although i am banned from drinking as a term of my probation. This is prob due to the expense and disputes with accuracy and incidental exposures. They do use the test, however for others on probation that are under 21 or who are on probation due to an alcohol related offense as opposed to a drug offense like me.
Some states wont use the test at all, and there will prob be an increase or decline in states currently using the test pending the results of the class action suit mentioned before.
Basically, it comes down to the fact that this test has not been in use long enough and not enough research has been done to determine all aspects of it’s accuracy and dependability and there are currently several advisories against using this test in situations where the consequence for a positive test is jail time or losing ur job, however, until more research is done and/or legislation is passed the test is considered the final word when it is used. The only way to fight a false positive is to hire a lawyer and go to court.

By: todd

todd — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:25:35 +0000

I had 3 drinks friday the last being at 10 p.m..I have a test tuesday at 5 p.m.91 hours after the last drink..Will I pass?

By: Kristi

Kristi — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:01:01 +0000

I have not taken a drink for months, but did use an inhaler with albuterol in it the day before a ua and tested positve. I know it had to be that because it was my first and only positive ua in almost a year of taking the etg tests.

By: Is there a urine test for alcohol that detects alchol in your urine 80 hours after use | Kappeetc

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:11:32 +0000

[...] Alcohol ETG Urine Test | TestCountry ArticlesThe Alcohol ETG Urine Test is a biomarker test that detects the presence of ethyl … proved to be able to detect alcohol usage for as long as 80 hours but still, … So, it may get you in trouble for no fault of yours! Moreover, there are no … My test is cort ordered and how long will alchol stay in my system … [...]

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:02:31 +0000

I had about 3 or 4 sips of red wine last night (approx. 1/2 glass) i got tested with an etg this morning. it was exactly 12 hours after i sipped the drink. the cut off level is 500, will it test positive?

By: jerry liddy

jerry liddy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:07:15 +0000

I recently found out I failed a etg test but haven’t drank in months. Wondering why, I realized that chemicals I work with may have triggered the positive result. Is it possible to test positive if you are exposed to Isopropyl Alcohol?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:57:36 +0000

If a positive test comes back and they mentioned 700, what does that mean? Does this test just show that you drank or will determine the amount and frequency? I am very confused as to how the results determine your drinking history. I drank on a Wednesday evening and was tested that friday morning. What does the 700 result really tell them??? Please let me know

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:55:39 +0000

I have been doing ETG testing for 2 years and depending on how much you drink it usually has a detection range of 80 hours and i have had one or two non alcoholic beers and passed but those are still at .5% content and a regular coors light is at about 4.-6.% so you can figure the math out.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:19:07 +0000

I live in a sober living facility and I was recently UA’d I have never worried about the results because I don’t drink, I am diabetic and it would just cause major issues with my health if I did. Although I was just recently made aware that my test results came back positive. How can that be possible? I do use an extensive amount of hand sanitizer and use a lot of different kind of cleaning products, and if that is the case how do I prove to the establishment I reside in that the test they used came back to be false positive! I’m frustrated and I’m trying to prove that I do not drink!