[nielchan]

Hi Dr. Bill,

First off, thanks for all of your great answers and posts. You are a real asset to the site and learning on the EtG front in general. So here's my scenario and question:

37 year old female. 5'2", 120 pounds. Just short of 2 bottles of wine between 5pm - 10:30 pm Friday night. Testing Tuesday around 3 pm. While that's about 88 hours from last sip, I figure with that much alcohol, BAC=0 might not have been until about 16 hours later? That would basically put the test at exactly 72 hours after BAC=0. Cut-off is 500. What do you believe the likelihood any EtG will show?

Thanks much!

[DrBill100]

Based on standard size bottle of wine (25 fl oz) that is 10 standard drinks (US). About 140 grams of pure alcohol. Based on your size that's 2.57 g/kg of body weight. That is a lot of alcohol.

Using a standard formula for BAC that places you at about .30 but I suspect that you metabolize at a much higher rate.

What concerns me is your rate of consumption which leads to a higher systemic concentration of alcohol and probably more EtG production.

Generally, if you are above the range of 78 hours from last drink or 66 hours from BAC=0 you have about 80% chance of being EtG clear*. The higher the alcohol dose the more difficult to determine EtG clearance because of the wide variation between individuals. For example in a test group with average of 66 hours you will find some at the 30 hour mark and others near the 100 hour mark.

About all that I can tell you is that the odds are in your favor but there is also a possibility EtG could be detectable. The 500 cutoff is in your favor.

Here is a link to a lady that drank more and passed in a much shorter time period: 55 hours from last drink, 15 drinks (3 bottles of wine), F-44-150 lb >LINK

How long have you been drinking to this extent?

*those figures are based on very few subjects and variant test standards.

[nielchan]

Thanks Dr. Bill,

Unfortunately, this was one of several recent (re)lapses I've had. I was a terrible alcoholic, achieving however total sobriety about 5 years ago. That is until it became shaky this year. My lapses tend to be isolated, but heavy to this extent. I am taking measures to get them under control.

So adding these historic variables, do you think I might metabolize faster or more slowly? (I recent had my liver panels done at a physical and all my bloodwork - on all counts - were healthy and normal.

Additionally, I was being conservative on time to cover my . I actually took the test 6-7 hours later, at 9:30pm, not 3 - technically 77-78 BAC=0, 93-93 post last-sip. However because I was stuck in a meeting, I hadn't emptied my bladder since 2 or 3 ish, so I am assuming the older EtG urine would have been mixed in with any later production. I drank a bottle of water throughout the meeting.

I know it's an odd question, but would this mixed urine/dilution effect affect the results and chances?

Thanks again.

[nielchan]

Also, I am basing time on 16 hours to BAC=0, is this a fair estimate?

[DrBill100]

I came up with about 17-18 but that was based on a normal metabolic rate (.017 g/ph). Could be much shorter but probably no longer.

EtG production (synthesis) ceases at BAC=0. There wouldn't have been any later production.

The water consumed would have diluted your urine ergo the concentration of EtG, but it's never good to provide a urine sample accumulated over an extended period. Just hope that all of the EtG had been excreted previously. Quite possible.

So tell me what measures you are employing to address the drinking. Lapses aren't unusual, you know, and you can't allow that to interfere with your long term goal.

Anyone that consumes that much alcohol has an accelerated EtOH metabolic rate. It's a liver overdrive called MEOS that is induced by the presence of EtOH above a certain level. So if your liver was healthy you have a high metabolic rate.

[nielchan]

When I do drink it is is usually a 1.5 wine, or just short. For some reason I rationalionalize that's better thana hard gin or vodka. Perhaps it's because I know the control... bottom is bottom is bottom, I can't go over set limits.

Still, just short of 1.5 wine as I've told you, and demos/circumstances, 500 cut off, last sip Fri 10:30, test Tues, 9:30 though bladder remaining since 2 pm... what are the chance? Time and levels yes/no on my side? I'm not saying I'm good or smart for testing these limits to you or anyone on this site - I'm just asking.

I'm working with rest the of my programs and pros on and avoiding future. I'm asking now.

Thanks.

[DrBill100]

When I do drink it is is usually a 1.5 wine, or just short. For some reason I rationalionalize that's better thana hard gin or vodka. perhaps it's because I know the control...bottom is bottom is bottom, I can't go over set limits.

Still, just short of 1.5 wine as I've told you, and demos/circumstances, 500 cut off, last sip Fri 10:30, test Tues, 9:30 though bladder remaining since 2 pm...what are the chance? Time and levels yes/no on my side? i'm not saying I'm good or smart for testing these limits to you or anyone on this site - I'm just asking.

I'm working with rest the of my programs and pros on and avoiding future. I'm asking now.

Thanks.

As noted above you will probably be clear of EtG at that time interval... chances are in your favor by 80%. What will happen once you pass, is my concern. What do you have planned from there?

[nielchan]

I am not hoping (planning) on continued drinking based on this information. I have recently made these mistakes, yes. Too recently. I work with AA. And SMART. What I am doing is playing out the tapes to myself based on recent circumstances. To myself and others.

I am not trying to manipulate you, but it is a scary system to those in the rockiest. Most unstable of times - - so what does "5 day"/80 hour" gap really mean? Why scare them more? Or less... Just be straight,. These are people who are humans who, recognizing or not, are often at the at the depths of despair, and the system just controls and pulls them down to deeper with fear, manipulation, and misinformation. Or sometimes, just nurses, public servants, general public, trying to help those other humans...

How will their whole lives be impacted? Not by trying to cheat the system, but reboot? Yet rear only breeds more addiction versus recovery... It's culture note testing...

[governorbrooks]

I had a drink Tuesday which contained 2oz of liquor (long island ice tea at applebees) I ASKED THEM how many oz it contained by the way so it could be confirmed and I want to know if I had the drink around 1030 pm or so will it show up on my EtG test I took Thursday at 1200 noon? I am 5'11 and weigh about 174lbs.. the EtG cutoff is 500.. will I pass?

[governorbrooks]

Based on standard size bottle of wine (25 fl oz) that is 10 standard drinks (US). About 140 grams of pure alcohol. Based on your size that's 2.57 g/kg of body weight. That is a lot of alcohol.

Using a standard formula for BAC that places you at about .30 but I suspect that you metabolize at a much higher rate.

What concerns me is your rate of consumption which leads to a higher systemic concentration of alcohol and probably more EtG production.

Generally, if you are above the range of 78 hours from last drink or 66 hours from BAC=0 you have about 80% chance of being EtG clear*. The higher the alcohol dose the more difficult to determine EtG clearance because of the wide variation between individuals. For example in a test group with average of 66 hours you will find some at the 30 hour mark and others near the 100 hour mark.

About all that I can tell you is that the odds are in your favor but there is also a possibility EtG could be detectable. The 500 cutoff is in your favor.

Here is a link to a lady that drank more and passed in a much shorter time period: 55 hours from last drink, 15 drinks (3 bottles of wine), F-44-150 lb >LINK

How long have you been drinking to this extent?

*those figures are based on very few subjects and variant test standards.

I had a drink Tuesday which contained 2oz of liquor (long island ice tea at applebees) I ASKED THEM how many oz it contained by the way so it could be confirmed and I want to know if I had the drink around 1030 pm or so will it show up on my EtG test I took Thursday at 1200 noon? I am 5'11 and weigh about 174lbs.. the cutooff is 500 I need answers!

[JudyKayTee]

I need some time out from answering questions from people with addictions who can't stay straight.

My suggestion? Do the time instead of accepting probation. When you get out you can drink yourself blind and stupid every night without a problem.