[Sheiky]

I'm scared of failing for something ridiculous like eating the wrong foods or sugar alcohol gum, or somebody spilling alcohol on me. I have absolutely no plans to consume alcohol, and I WILL NOT! But my question is, let's say I just had some sushi and have a test in a couple days, how easily could I fail this test? Also, I'm not sure what the cut-off is but I'm testing at Jams. As long as I'm not drinking, should I be worried about failing for something ridiculous?

Thank you.

[JudyKayTee]

I'm scared of failing for something ridiculous like eating the wrong foods or sugar alcohol gum, or somebody spilling alcohol on me. I have absolutely no plans to consume alcohol, and I WILL NOT!! But my question is, let's say I just had some sushi and have a test in a couple days, how easily could I fail this test?! Also, I'm not sure what the cut-off is but I'm testing at Jams. As long as I'm not drinking, should I be worried about failing for something ridiculous?

Thank you.

Alcohol spilled on you will not cause you to test positive.

What wrong foods could you eat? Why would sushi make you test positive?

If you aren't drinking, planning to drink why are you worried?

[Sheiky]

I'm worried because I've heard stuff like the soy sauce in sushi could make you test positive and I should avoid it. Also, the sugar alcohol in gum wouldn't show up? What if I eat something that had some wine cooked in it?

I'm just wondering what type of things I should avoid besides alcohol. I've heard so many things about how unreliable this test it, and the last thing I'd want is to see the judge again.

[DrBill100]

I'm scared of failing for something ridiculous like eating the wrong foods or sugar alcohol gum, or somebody spilling alcohol on me. I have absolutely no plans to consume alcohol, and I WILL NOT!! But my question is, let's say I just had some sushi and have a test in a couple days, how easily could I fail this test?! Also, I'm not sure what the cut-off is but I'm testing at Jams. As long as I'm not drinking, should I be worried about failing for something ridiculous?

Thank you.

You are absolutely correct that certain food products with relatively minor alcohol content can create detectable levels of EtG/EtS. Your concerns are well founded. Fortunately, through understanding the nature of EtG you can live a reasonably normal life and not be overly concerned about failing the test.

Trace amounts of alcohol do create EtG/EtS often above the level of detection (LOD). This was demonstrated by Anne Thierauf in 2009 study. 1 gram of alcohol is enough to peak above the LOD. (As comparison a shot of whiskey contains 14 grams) Frank Musshoff specifically tested food products that contained alcohol mostly due to fermentation. His study also noted the presence of EtG/EtS from such innocuous items as sauer kraut and overly ripe bananas.

Thierauf and associates also proved that the consumption of yeast and sugar can create alcohol by fermentation and likewise result in EtG/EtS.

Now avoiding this result. It's largely a matter of timing. EtG/EtS peak from 2-5 hours after alcohol elimination. Following this peak the values rapidly decline and would fall below the level of detection within hours. Being unaware of this potential and elimination it is easy to see how one could easily register a false positive.

You need to be very careful during the 18-24 hours prior to test in avoiding any product or food stuff that could contain alcohol. You also need to drink plenty of water during that time. Never go to an EtG test poorly hydrated as concentrated urine will magnify the presence of EtG/EtS.

The factors you have mentioned are but a few of the dangers posed by this test. Extremely erratic and unreliable for the purposes intended.

Ref:
Thierauf, et al 2009 Urine tested positive for ethyl glucuronide after trace amounts of ethanol

Musshoff, et al 2010 Ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate in urine after consumption of various beverages and foods—misleading results?

Thierauf, et al 2010 Urine tested positive for ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate after the consumption of yeast and sugar