Ask Me Help Desk - False Positive PEth

I am currently enrolled in a physician monitoring program for alcohol through my state PHP. Prior to signing the contract I used to have a few drinks on the weekends or special occasions, but it wasn't an every day occurrence. After signing the monitoring agreement, I have stayed abstinent. Despite this fact, 45 days after my last drink of alcohol I tested positive on my PEth test with a level of 20. Despite my objections otherwise, the PHP is accepting the results as gospel and I am now being asked to enter into further monitoring and IOP therapy. Has anyone else experienced a false positive PEth result, and if so what was the reason and were you able to find any evidence to support your claims?

My first question would be why are you in such a program, and my observation is the PEth tests are the gospel when it comes to alcohol detection. Testing positive at such a low level is either you underestimated your alcohol use, or you have a medical condition that you may need to have treated. Or both.

If you fail your next test, and have been abstinent still, I certainly would have a doctor run blood tests for any organ/medical conditions, or accept that your 45 days of abstinence were insufficient at the time for you (For whatever reasons). There are a number of factors that go into evaluating a PEth test failure, and organ disease, or medical conditions are but a few of the causes of failure of this test.

Sorry but your test result indicate more scrutiny and your next test better be even lower.

https://www.acli.com/Events/Document...%20Stewart.pdf

Quote:

– Low levels indicate lighter recent drinking probably approaching one drink/day, or heavy drinking that ceased in the past 1 to 1.5 months

Are you also avoiding products that contain alcohol? Hand sanitizer is a major one but they're all over the place. How about foods that contain alcohol? IE, red-wine sauce. Alcohol doesn't cook off as much as is popularly speculated. Not drinking and complete alcohol abstinence are two very different things.

I appreciate everyone's response. I have been doing my best to avoid all products that may contain alcohol including hand sanitizer and mouthwash, but it is possible there may be something I wasn't aware of.

As for why I am in the program, it is due to a suspicion of DUI during a speed trap on Valentine's Day last year when I was not on call. The test was inconclusive when I blew, and eventually the blood test showed a level of .06. As a result, the eventual traffic violation was dismissed, but not before it registered an inquiry with the medical board. They eventually turned it over to PHP where I was cleared after a full evaluation, but the last part before they release me is 6 months of monitored abstinence, which brings us to the present.

I too have a false positive test report.

I did not drink any alcohol for 21 days and tested a 32.
I did consume 5 beers in 35 days (never more than 2 beers per 48 hours) and tested 23.

Something is wrong with me or this test, and am trying to afford the expense of a medical analysis / diagnosis.

At work, my finger tips are bathed in isopropyl alcohol at least 12 times a day.
For play, my hands get exposed to methanol about twice a week.

At work, my finger tips are bathed in isopropyl alcohol at least 12 times a day.
For play, my hands get exposed to methanol about twice a week.
These alcohols do not enter into to Etg testing as they do not contain the Ethyl radical

Quote:

Originally Posted by PEth inaccurate

I too have a false positive test report.

I did not drink any alcohol for 21 days and tested a 32.
I did consume 5 beers in 35 days (never more than 2 beers per 48 hours) and tested 23.

Something is wrong with me or this test, and am trying to afford the expense of a medical analysis / diagnosis.

At work, my finger tips are bathed in isopropyl alcohol at least 12 times a day.
For play, my hands get exposed to methanol about twice a week.

You should be wearing gloves/and masks at work and play as these are alcohols that can be absorbed through the skin, and detected in the blood. This is incidental exposure, and should be explained and noted BEFORE the test. Some diseases are also a reason for a level of detection and may require a physician getting involved.

Both are POISON to humans.