[mrv14]

5:00 PM Saturday. I took and EtG with a cutoff of 500 on Tuesday at 5:30. Can I pass?

[buttler73]

Water!!

[DrBill100]

5:00 PM Saturday. I took and etg with a cutoff of 500 on Tuesday at 5:30. Can I pass?

Despite the large amount of alcohol consumed you have a chance. That is a very long period for consumption, 31 hours. Is that correct? Tell me a little more about your consumption pattern and we can narrow it down.

For instance you started at 10:00 Friday. What time did you finish the first pint? I assume you slept between the start and finish of drinking? Need this info in order to calculate approximate BAC at time of last drink.

[mrv14]

Unfortunately, the times of consumption were: 1st pint between 10 AM and 7 PM Friday [I slept approximately 10 hours that night]and then from 9 AM and 6:30 PM Saturday. I tried using one of the BAC calculators, and based on my weight, amount consumed and time span in which I drank, my BAC was calculated at .5 or something like that on Friday alone. Maybe I was inputting data wrong, but I don't think so. I also can't imagine I actually had a .5 BAC or I think I'd be dead. If my BAC was as high as it was predicted, it would take about 34 hours to reach a 0 BAC, which would leave not nearly enough time for the EtG to clear by Tuesday 5:30 PM.

I drank a pint of vodka a month ago on a Saturday, finishing around 6:30. I got called for a random test Monday, took the test around 6:30 and failed. I know my cutoff is 500 and my caseworker didn't disclose [nor did I ask] my EtG level. Menstral issues could have contributed to not voiding the EtG in the 48 hour time frame. I'm not sure.

[mrv14]

I'm not sure if it matters, but I'm not a daily drinker. When I drink I tend to drink a lot, but it was six weeks, for example, since last time of consumption.

[mrv14]

One additional question. I was reviewing the Helander 2008 study on EtG detection and detox patients. I'm not a scientist and am wondering what the alcohol concentration of 1.0 to 3.4 g/L translates to.

Many cites say EtG is usually only detectable for 80 hours in "extreme cases," but again, based on my size, level of consumption and short time frame in which the alcohol was consumed, I'm thinking mine might be one of those extremes even with the 500 cutoff.

[DrBill100]

Calculating BAC at your weight poses some problems when consumption amount is considered. But using the standard formulary I came up with BAC = .17 at the conclusion of drinking on Friday. Staying with that system, (.015 ph elimination) you would have been near BAC = .02 on Saturday morning.

I suspect that you eliminate alcohol much faster than .015. 1) females eliminate about 10% faster than males, but more importantly is a 2) metabolic pathway called Microbial Ethanol Oxidizing System (MEOS). I call this "liver overdrive" and it kicks in after continuing exposure to systemic alcohol.

Anyway, your Friday drinking should be viewed as a separate session as EtG does not accumulate. So, EtG elimination time for the Friday drinking session began at 9:00 Sat morn.

However, at that point you began drinking again and consumed 8.5 drinks ending at 6:30 Saturday. Presumably with a BAC = .17 requiring approximately 11 hrs to return to BAC = 0. Or around 5 AM Sunday. That allows about 60 hours for elimination.

Because of the volume of alcohol consumed across a long period and the overlapping drinking sessions it's almost impossible to call. You have about a 20% chance of passing the test. By using a standard .015 metabolism that doesn't allow for your probable accelerated clearance. However, If estimating EtG clearance, to be safe, I would put clearance above 78 hours.

As an impartial observer given that you are an intermittent-excessive drinker I question why you are challenging the limits of this test. You are certainly within a range where you may fail and you seem to be aware of that?

[mrv14]

Thanks. I'm an alcoholic is the answer to your question. I was in recovery for a good number of years and relapsed recently. I am simply going to call my caseworker and admit the relapse, versus waiting for him to call me, which will not end nearly as well.

Thank you.

[DrBill100]

Thanks. I'm an alcoholic is the answer to your question. I was in recovery for a good number of years and relapsed recently. I am simply going to call my caseworker and admit the relapse, versus waiting for him to call me, which will not end nearly as well.

Thank you.

All considered that is probably a good choice. That allows you to address the underlying problem directly, alcoholism. Lapses are to be expected, it's part of the pathology, so don't beat yourself up.

Once again, given your circumstances, you are making the best choice and should be commended.

[JudyKayTee]

Water!!!!!!!

Excessive water is picked up on testing - this is incorrect advice (if one word is considered advice).