Other studies have also indicated that the EtG test is not a reliable measure of whether someone has consumed alcohol, including a 2009 Swedish study published in Forensic Science International and available from the U.S. When the ethanol in the hand sanitizer is absorbed into the body, your EtG levels can become elevated, just as if you had consumed a beer or other alcoholic beverage. For instance, SAMHSA refers to a popular hand sanitizer that is approximately 64 percent ethanol. Many everyday items that you have in your home can result in a false positive on an EtG test. In other words, just because you have alcohol in your system that results in a positive EtG test, this cannot be considered definitive proof that you drank alcohol.
SAMHSA issued the warning because the test is too sensitive and is unable to distinguish between alcohol absorbed into the body from the use of common household products and alcohol consumed for recreational use. In fact, SAMHSA issued an advisory in 2006 indicating that the EtG test is “scientifically unsupportable” and “should not be used as the sole basis for legal or disciplinary action.” Unfortunately, while EtG tests are often treated as an accepted method of determining whether alcohol consumption had occurred, the tests are actually an unreliable method of assessing alcohol consumption. Law enforcement and probation officers also began to make use of EtG tests to ensure that individuals refrained from using alcohol when directed to, such as when on probation for OWI. Many employers adopted the test as a standard form of testing by screening employees and operating safety programs.
When the EtG test came into widespread use as a test for alcohol consumption in the early 2000s, it was billed as one of the most sensitive and reliable tests available. An EtG test is a direct biomarker, as consumption of or exposure to alcohol can increase the levels of ethyl glucoronide in the urine. Biomarkers are physiological indicators that an individual has been exposed to alcohol.Ī number of different biomarkers exist, including both indirect biomarkers (such as changes in red blood cells that occur as a result of heavy or ongoing alcohol abuse) and direct biomarkers (such as blood and breath tests). Possession / Sale / Distribution of DrugsĪn EtG test is a urine test used to determine if you have consumed any alcohol in the previous 80 hours.What Convictions are Eligible for Expungement?.
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