[worriedsick84]

Dr. Bill,
I have to take an EtG UA 22 hours after drinking two 30% alcohol shots. If I drink a lot of water what do you think my chances are of passing? Thank you so much in advance.

[DrBill100]

Under normal circumstances EtG should still be present at that time span. While it is known that the metabolite is influenced by liquids the degree of that effect hasn't been studied to any extent.

Helen Dahl in her 2011 report states that " ..it is possible to decrease the urinary concentration of EtG to fall below the LOQ of the analytic method, simply by drinking moderate to large amounts of water or any other fluid prior to voiding." Accepting that as true my only question would be how long it takes.

With this test it's possible that you could pass anyway if they are using a 500 cutoff. However, you are in a time span that I couldn't predict.

I would also point out that if the two shots contained 30% alcohol that is only 1.5 standard drinks (US) if they were 1.5 oz shots and drops to one drink if 1 oz shots. That puts you in range for clearance around 18-21 hour mark (based on 100 cutoff). Still to close to call though.

Dahl, H (2011) (p. 22)

[worriedsick84]

Thank you so much. I was never told if it was a 500 ng cutoff, but do you assume/think it is, given the fact that in the past I always used massive amounts of hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) and did not hold my breath while doing so, but still always passed the UA's? My P.O. literally told me I'd have to bathe in it or drink it for it affect my results, where in other circumstances I've heard of people failing from just using it sparingly. Therefore, I assume their cutoffs were 100 or 250 ng.

[DrBill100]

Small amounts of EtG are usually due to timing rather than amount. There is no way to know the cutoff without asking or seeing the printout.

[katie1978]

thank you so much. i was never told if it was a 500 ng cutoff, but do you assume/think it is, given the fact that in the past i always used massive amounts of hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) and did not hold my breath while doing so, but still always passed the UA's? my P.O. literally told me i'd have to bathe in it or drink it for it affect my results, where in other circumstances i've heard of people failing from just using it sparingly. Therefore, I assume their cutoffs were 100 or 250 ng.

Did you pass?

[worriedsick84]

Did you pass?

Sorry for the delay, I ended up not having to take it. My p.o. let me reschedule, thank God! I don't think I would've passed though unless it's maybe 500 cutoff, not sure about the cutoff obviously.