I haven't had a drink since 2-24-13. I do voluntary ETG test twice a month. I recently failed a test on November 1st. The cutoff was 100ng/mL. My levels were ETG 406ng/ml and ets 34ng/ml. I was shocked and upset. I went home and tried to think about what could have caused it. The only thing I could come up with is the colored hairspray that I used on both of my daughters hair for their halloween costumes. I went through 4 4oz cans. It has SD alcohol 40 in it. It was all over my hands and I'm sure I inhaled a lot. Could this be the reason for the positive result? I called one lab and they said no.

What is the result of a failed test? More for curiosity for myself than anything.

One thing to look for is alcohol in foods and baking. There isn't a lot but some escape the cooking process. As well there is the topical absorption, but I can't see that accounting for a lot. This is confusing.

It's not court ordered. I'm doing it because my soon to be ex- husband has made allegations against me. I did the test on 11-1-13 because I wanted everyone to know that drinking wasn't an issue during the halloween holiday. I have never had a positive test until this one. I can't think of anything that I would have eaten out of the ordinary... Just the hairspray... Like I said it was all over my hands and 4 cans of it. Frustrated!!

Aaccording to a Quick internet Search (http://alcoholism.about.com/od/work/a/etg.htm), it seems plausible that the hairspray might have caused this. I can't say that it is, but it seems plausible. One thing to remember about this is that the lab knows how to do the test, the broad strokes of what the test should detect, but not what will cause false positive. I wouldn't be discouraged by the results or what the lab person said.