Dr Bill, I may be having EtG tests at random on Wednesdays 7 at night. I have read about incidental exposure. What do I need to avoid to keep this from happening? What foods and household products?

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Originally Posted by Buddyclarkambs

Dr Bill, I may be having etg tests at random on Wednesdays 7 at night. I have read about incidental exposure. What do I need to avoid to keep this from happening? What foods and household products?

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The number of products is far too extensive to list. It is possible for trace amount of alcohol to create EtG that can spike above the level of detection but that can be controlled so that you don't live in a state of apprehension.

Just focus on the 12 hour period immediately preceding test. Check your daily use products such as mouthwash, hair spray, perfumes, after shave, shampoo for alcohol content. Avoid those with listed alcohol, ethanol, SD40 during the 12 hour period. EtG reaches highest level about 3 hours after alcohol exposure (range 2-5 hr) and then rapidly declines. Exposure is mostly through inhalation and not across the skin.

Day of test drink 8 oz of water each hour up until about an hour before time of test. Don't over-do it... don't want a dilute test but you must make certain that you are well hydrated otherwise concentrated urine artificially magnifies EtG.

In most cases false-positives due to environmental exposure result from bad timing in combination with poor hydration.

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Originally Posted by DrBill100

The number of products is far too extensive to list. It is possible for trace amount of alcohol to create EtG that can spike above the level of detection but that can be controlled so that you don't live in a state of apprehension.

Just focus on the 12 hour period immediately preceding test. Check your daily use products such as mouthwash, hair spray, perfumes, after shave, shampoo for alcohol content. Avoid those with listed alcohol, ethanol, SD40 during the 12 hour period. EtG reaches highest level about 3 hours after alcohol exposure (range 2-5 hr) and then rapidly declines. Exposure is mostly through inhalation and not across the skin.

Day of test drink 8 oz of water each hour up until about an hour before time of test. Don't over-do it... don't want a dilute test but you must make certain that you are well hydrated otherwise concentrated urine artificially magnifies EtG.

In most cases false-positives due to environmental exposure result from bad timing in combination with poor hydration.

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That brings another question. I work outside in agriculture so I'm sweating all day and will easily drink 2 gallons in the 12 hour period before potential test. Will my urine be too dilute?

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Originally Posted by Buddyclarkambs

That brings another question. I work outside in agriculture so I'm sweating all day and will easily drink 2 gallons in the 12 hour period before potential test. Will my urine be too dilute?

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That would depend on your metabolism, and a load of other factors. I've had 2 tests come back abnormal for creatinine levels of about 18 mg/dl. The first time it happened I was on a high protein diet, drinking slightly more water than I do normally, 3pm after a day on my feet in the hospital. The 2nd time, I ate a large lunch and hardly drank anything the entire day. Still a mystery to me. Now, I drink almost nothing after breakfast, and urinate as little as possible before testing. My baseline just happens to be lower than the average the lab is looking for.