[EverK]

Hi. I had a surprise ETG test today. I am not routinely tested for ETG or anything else for that matter. This was for a job offer with a zero tolerance policy though I did not know this before hand.
Friday night I had dinner at 9:30 and from that time until 2:45 had 8 drinks. I only drink usually on Fridays so no drinks in the days before or following.
I was tested at 3:15 Monday afternoon, so about 60.5 hours after my last drink.

I am a 35 year old female 5'4, 130 lbs. Well hydrated, good health.

Could I pass this?

[DrBill100]

Please provide a little information for me.

By "job offer" I assume you mean that you have been accepted for the position subject to passing a drug test and physical examination.

Otherwise, no alcohol test of any kind should be performed pre-offer.

In addition zero-tolerance in the workplace setting does not apply to use of alcoholic beverages. Only to use of illegal drugs.

An EtG test can be useful (but not very) in determining total-abstinence which is not a requirement in any workplace setting that I know of. The test is not, and cannot, be used to determine impairment (systemic alcohol).

Would EtG be detectable at 60 hours following consumption of 8 standard drinks? It could be. If so at a low level. That would show only that you had consumed some amount of alcohol at some time in the past. The test is generally not used in the workplace. The results can be used only to question lack of total abstinence and even in that limited use it is unreliable.

[EverK]

It was pending on the result of the test... Not sure why they are testing for EtG but it was listed on the form along with the other substances they were testing for with a 500 cutoff. It is for a position at a small private medical practice...
Though I suppose its odd for them to test for it, I am concerned about my chances of passing this test at 60.5 hours post drinking.

[DrBill100]

Your chances improve with a 500 cutoff.

Also, post-offer they can test for anything they like because even medical examinations are allowed... alcohol testing is always a medical examination in employment testing. Not a drug test.

Still a very unusual use of the test, unless they require you to never have a drink of alcohol during the term of employment. Otherwise the test is useless and a waste of money.

You should always be worried about passing the test. There are thousands of ways to fail an EtG particularly if you haven't been advised to avoid alcohol containing products. That's true even if you had nothing to drink.

Please keep us advised when you get the results.


NOTICE: Any person or entity that is subjected to or relies on EtG testing should read this Advisory issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services, September 2006 and remains in effect as of date of this posting. Copy available here > US DHHS Advisory

[EverK]

I will let you know when I get the results back, I am really hoping to pass since I really want the job.
The Physician that owns the practice is in recovery and promotes a no drug/no drinking work place. I assumed since he owned it, he could test for whatever he chose, so I didn't question it

[DrBill100]

He probably can. Drug & alcohol testing rules don't apply to businesses with less than 15 employees.

In addition, a drug free workplace does reasonably include no drinking while on the job but EtG testing can't detect that.

It isn't reasonable to require an individual to be alcohol free when not at work, such as having wine with a meal. That is a total abstinence policy reminiscent of the 1800s Temperance Crusade. That is what EtG can (is supposed to) detect.

[EverK]

I did drink about 45 ounces of fluid within the hour before the test... not sure if that helps or not..

[EverK]

Ok, so my results were emailed to me and came through early this morning.

The test was a 500ng cutoff.

I passed!!

8 drinks in about 5 hours with food tested 60 hours later.

I did drink about 45 ounces in the hour before the test but urine was not dilute, clear with a faint yellow tinge.

[DrBill100]

Ok, so my results were emailed to me and came through early this morning.

The test was a 500ng cutoff.

I passed!!!!!

8 drinks in about 5 hours with food tested 60 hours later.

I did drink about 45 ounces in the hour before the test but urine was not dilute, clear with a faint yellow tinge.

Glad to hear that you passed. Good luck in your new job.

If you get the chance, on the report, probably under methods, would be listed how the test was performed: Immunoassay... LC/MS... etc. Pretty sure it would be IA but would be helpful to clarify.

[EverK]

Hi. I had a surprise ETG test today. I am not routinely tested for ETG or anything else for that matter. This was for a job offer with a zero tolerance policy though I did not know this before hand.
Friday night I had dinner at 9:30 and from that time until 2:45 had 8 drinks. I only drink usually on Fridays so no drinks in the days before or following.
I was tested at 3:15 Monday afternoon, so about 60.5 hours after my last drink.

I am a 35 year old female 5'4, 130 lbs. Well hydrated, good health.

Could I pass this?

I didn't notice that, but I will look. It did list creatnine and testing for adulterants along with all the drugs etoh and EtG. Was test was performed by LabCorp.

[EverK]

Glad to hear that you passed. Good luck in your new job.

If you get the chance, on the report, probably under methods, would be listed how the test was performed: Immunoassay....LC/MS...etc. Pretty sure it would be IA but would be helpful to clarify.

It did not state. It didlust creatinine, ph, and specific gravity, but then just listed negative beside the cutoff levels. I'm fairly sure Labcorp does IA followed up with GC/MS for positive IAs

[DrBill100]

Thanks. All of that is consistent with IA only which is standard. The other factors are for sample validity and also SOP.

Thanks again for reporting the results.

[DOA302]

I took an EtG test today Tuesday at 10 am and stopped drinking a 375ml of alcohol Saturday at 10pm. I weigh 130 at 5'9" and had several monster energy drinks through the 60 hour period even had one before the test. This is important to me to know whether id pass or not?

[CravenMorhead]

Wait for the results. All we can do is speculate. The test is sensitive to between 60-80 hrs. It also depends on what you drank and when the last of your alcohol was metabolised.

What happens if you fail?