Hi, I drank 4 bud light 12 ounce cans at 10 pm on Saturday new years eve, and have an EtG test Monday at 2pm. I do not know the cutoff level of test but assuming it is the lowest how likely will I be to pass? I am 6'1 180 lb male in very good shape exercise daily/high protein and creatine diet, and drank a lot of water since drinking the alcohol. Also is the ets time window comparable to EtG? I'm scared as **** because failing could have serious consequences... I've read some online personal accounts, and Dr. Bill's answers as well and it seems I am very borderline here... Anyway Thanks!

The timeline for EtS is similar to EtG. (Helander & Beck (http://www.clinchem.org/content/50/5/936.full.pdf))

One study found EtG detectable for 32 hours (from BAC=0) for 41 hours from start of drinks. (9 subjects) Moore, O-2 (http://www.gtfch.org/cms/images/stories/media/tk/tk77_3/abstractorals.pdf);

Another found consumption of 3 shots of vodka EtG was detectable for between 25-48 hours, average about 30. (19 subjects) Hoiseth, 2008 (http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/2/187/T1.expansion.html);

another, tested 5% beer, up to 41 g/kg (about 3-1/2 beers) and found the detection window for EtG was 22.5-31.5 h, and then "only at very low levels in the end." (6 subjects) Goll, 2002 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12054359?dopt=Abstract);

Finally, a study found that consumption of 4.3 drinks did not register positive in subjects after 26 hours (19 subjects) Wojcik & Hawthorne, 2007 (http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/agm014v1#T1), see Fig. 1.

With such small populations it is impossible to reach any conclusion about clearance time. There has never been a large scale study of EtG.

Based on this limited information you will probably pass at that time, but there is about a 25% chance that you will not.

EtG testing is erratic, unpredictable and unreliable. Any attempt to time drinking pre- or post-consumption is very risky business.