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.

Fr_Chuck

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

etg-Alcohol Testing

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

theone1

what about US courts

theone1

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 cant see how a lab could use this test. can anybody provide some more info

JudyKayTee

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.

theone1

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

JudyKayTee

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.

theone1

thank you atleast somebody on this site is kind

theone1

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.

JudyKayTee

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.