I just recently read that the EtG alcohol test was considered inaccurate because it is too sensitive and would create a false positive if people use hand moisturizers, deodorants or any other products with even the smallest hint of alcohol in them. Does anybody know if there is any truth to this.

It is a toss up, currently it is reconised by UK courts, so if it shows positive they will accept it.

etg-Alcohol Testing (http://www.hairalcoholtesting.co.uk/resources/etg-alcohol-testing.html)

What I have read is the issue that for proper testing, they allow a small amount and only show a positive after a certain level.

EtG Test - Widely-Used EtG Test for Alcohol Unreliable (http://alcoholism.about.com/od/work/a/etg.htm)

What about US courts

Every report I've looked it said this test destroys more lives than it hurts because people are testing positive even if they use hand sanitizer and its not a level its just a positive or negative. I can't see how a lab could use this test. Can anybody provide some more info

every report ive looked it said this test destroys more lives than it hurts because people are testing positive even if they use hand sanitizer and its not a level its jsut a positive or negative. i can't see how a lab could use this test. can anybody provide some more info


Are you asking this as part of your conviction for underage drinking? Is this the test the Police used?

Interesting question - I found a lot of sites but nothing definitive (everyone seems to have an opinion, most of them privately funded sites) but I did find one site which said that exposure to any alcohol-based product (mouthwash, hand disinfectant) creates a very low level of EtG. Police Labs are using a minimum EtG level of 550 ng/ml, a level you can reach only through consumption of alcohol, not through use of alcohol-based products.

No my conviction was for possession I never actually drank it. I bought it from a store that we had heard was selling to people under 21. And it was on the map for awhile so there were undercover cops. And I have not found that level based thing anywhere, because after about 50 hours depending on how muhc you drank that level would be below 550. I'm not even comparing this to my conviciton I've read horrible stories of how its destroying lives

no my conviction was for possession i never actually drank it. i bought it from a store that we had heard was selling to people under 21. and it was on the map for awhile so there were undercover cops. and i have not found that level based thing anywhere, because after about 50 hours depending on how muhc you drank that level would be below 550. im not even comparing this to my conviciton ive jst read horrible stories of how its destroying lives


Wow! That seems a little harsh but I have no idea what the law is. I suppose they are going by intent - My niece worked in a store and got arrested for selling to a minor, even though she proofed the person who showed a Drivers License. When it got to Court the charges were dismissed because the forgery was so good and she had no way of knowing. That's the other side of the scenario.

Anyway, I'll try to find and post the exact site that listed the 550 level - in the meantime I found this (ethylglucuronide.homestead.com) which addresses it, too.

Thank you at least somebody on this site is kind

And how would I know if the place I go to uses EtG testing because according to that webstie you gave me they would have to warn me of using deodorants and hand gels and things like that. And of course they haven't. I use all those things which could give me a false positive because there is no cutoff.

and how would i know if the place i go to uses etg testing because according to that webstie you gave me they would ahve to warn me of using deodorants and hand gels and things like that. and of course they havent. i use all those things which could give me a false positive because there is no cutoff.


I think you would probably have to ask them - I don't know anything except for what I read while looking this up.

I also don't find anything that tells you how much alcohol is in each product and how quickly the various contents would add up.

Interesting question and I wish I had the answer.

I know I would love to ask them but I feel it would bring suspicion upon me and the key to probation is to lay as low key as possible the less you bother them the less they bother you

You can find information on samhsa.gov regarding the inaccuracies of this test. It was very helpful to me. By the way this is the site for U.S. Department Of Health And Human Serivces, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Serivces Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. It is not some run of the mill web site it is produce by our government

This is not true. If you have access to actual research (either through a database or a college library or whatnot), you will find a variety of studies that shows that levels between certain foods, products, etc. and alcohol are comparable.

It cut me off. Wanted to add that many things can indeed yield an EtG level higher than 550--and quite easily too! I do not mean this rudely, but your answer--"you can [only reach 550 ng/ml] through the consumption of alcohol"--is misinformed.

Kind, but unfortunately that poster is incorrect. I just want people to beware because this happened to me (i.e. an innocent positive due to a product that was very high in alcohol content but that they told me I was allowed to use).

And one slight correction: the levels CAN be comparable--e.g. if you drank 3 days ago that can yield the same level as, say, using hand sanitizer or consuming vanilla extract.

I did not mean to imply that binge drinking the night before your test will be the same as eating a bowl of sauerkraut. How do you do the comment thing by the way? :-/ This comment space is very limited.