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ETG Alcohol Testing

ARE THEY DRINKING? WE’LL FIND OUT.

Pinnacle Health Technologies (PHT) offers ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) testing, known as the EtG/EtS Alcohol Testing solution. EtG is a direct metabolite of alcohol ethanol). Its presence in urine may be used to detect recent alcohol ingestion, even after ethanol is no longer measurable. The presence of EtG in urine is an indicator that alcohol was ingested. EtG is detectable in urine for up to 80 hours after the consumption of alcohol. EtG is only evident when alcohol is ingested and is not produced as a result of fermentation. In addition to EtG, recent scientific studies have identified ethyl sulfate (EtS) as a second specific metabolite or biomarker of ethanol. For this reason, PHT tests and reports EtS, in conjunction with EtG, to confirm recent ethanol ingestion or exposure. The detection of EtG and EtS offers greater sensitivity and accuracy for determination of recent alcohol ingestion, than by detection of either biomarker alone. The PHT drug testing lab utilizes the most sophisticated, sensitive and specific equipment and technology available, LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry), to screen confirm and quantitate EtG/EtS. This methodology provides highly accurate alcohol test results.

Features and Benefits:

  1. Detects recent usage more accurately and for a longer period of time than standard alcohol testing
  2. Combined test for EtG and EtS provides greater sensitivity and accuracy
  3. Ideal for zero tolerance and abstinence situations
  4. Strong indicator of alcohol ingestion within the previous 3 to 4 days
  5. Allows monitoring in alcohol treatment programs
  6. Acts as an early warning system to detect trends towards relapse
  7. Tests performed by LC/MS/MS on state of the art equipment
  8. EtG/EtS tests may be run on urine specimens in conjunction with other PHT drug testing panels
  9. Affordable pricing and fast turnaround (36 hours from receipt of specimen)
  10. Results available via internet, fax and U.S. mail

To learn more about EtG/EtS Alcohol Testing call:   940-898-1787
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RELATED INFORMATION

EtG Alcohol Testing
Datasheet [PDF 253k]
EtG Testing FAQ
EtG Testing FAQ [PDF 108k]
On-site Screening Devices

EtG is a direct metabolite of alcohol (ethanol).  Its presence in urine may be used to detect recent alcohol ingestion, even after ethanol is no longer measurable.  The presence of EtG in urine is an indicator that alcohol was ingested and can be detected in urine for up to eighty hours after ingestion.  EtG is only evident when alcohol is ingested and is not produced as a result of fermentation.

PHT utilizes the most sophisticated, sensitive and specific equipment and technology available, (LC/MS/MS – liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry), to screen, confirm and quantitate EtG.  This methodology provides highly accurate results.  As with all of PHT’s testing options, full customer support and training is provided.  Turn to PHT for confidence in testing—we’ll find out.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Ethyl Glucuronide?
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of alcohol (ethanol).  Its presence in urine may be used to detect recent alcohol ingestion, even after ethanol is no longer measurable.  The presence of EtG in urine is an indicator that alcohol was ingested.

How long can EtG be detected in urine?
Traditional laboratory methods detect the actual alcohol in the body, which reflects current use within the past few hours (depending on how much is ingested).  The presence of EtG in urine indicates that ethanol was ingested within the previous three to four days, or approximately eighty hours after ethanol is eliminated from the body.  Therefore, EtG is a more accurate indicator of the recent ingestion of alcohol than measuring for the presence of ethanol itself.

How accurate and reliable is the EtG test?
EtG is a direct metabolite of alcohol (ethanol), and its detection in urine is highly specific, similar to testing for other drugs.  RTL utilizes the most sophisticated, sensitive and specific equipment and technology available, LC/Ms/MS, to screen, confirm, and quantitate EtG.  This methodology provides highly accurate results.  As is the case with any laboratory test, it is also very important to obtain clinical correlation.

Can residual EtG be detected in the urine of long-term alcoholics who abstain?
Studies indicate that alcoholics in abstinence have no detectable levels of EtG in their urine after approximately eighty hours of detoxification.

What about urine alcohol produced by fermentation?

EtG is only detected in urine when alcohol is ingested.  This is important since it is possible to have alcohol in urine without drinking.  Alcohol in urine without drinking is due to the production of ethanol in vitro.  Ethanol in vitro is spontaneously produced in the bladder or the specimen container itself, due to fermentation of urine samples containing sugars (diabetes) and yeast or bacteria.  Since the ethanol produced is not metabolized by the liver, EtG will not be produced and will therefore not be detected in a urine containing alcohol is a result of fermentation.

How stable is EtG in urine?
Studies show that EtG is stable in urine for more than four days at room temperature.  Recent experiments indicate that heating urine to 100°C actually increased the stability of EtG.  Therefore, heat does not cause the breakdown of EtG, it actually increases stability.  In addition, no artificial formation of EtG was found to occur following the prolonged storage of urine at room temperature fortified with 1% ethanol.

Why do EtG cut-off values vary at different labs?
Various cut-off levels (100, 250, 500, or 1000 ng/mL) are suggested for use in EtG testing.  Any EtG level over 100 ng/mL indicates exposure to ethanol.  In order to provide alcohol abstinence programs with the most clinically relevant answer to whether or not recent alcohol ingestion has occurred, using a 100 ng/mL cut-off for EtG detection is the best and more definitive test available to answer this question.  PHT uses a 100 ng/mL cut-off level.

EtG Cut-off            Abuse Episodes Detected
1000 ng/mL              -80 – 90%
500 ng/mL                -90%
250 ng/mL                -90%
100 ng/mL                -90%

Will the use of incidental alcohol, such as mouthwash and Over-the-Counter (OTC) cough syrups trigger a positive result?
Tests show that “incidental exposure” to the chronic use of food products (vanilla extract), hygiene products, mouthwash, or OTC medications (cough syrups) can produce EtG concentrations in excess of 100 ng/mL.  However, if measurable ethanol is detected (>94 gm%) in the urine, and EtG is also detected in excess of 100 ng/mL, then this is a very strong evidence that beverage alcohol was ingested.

Most alcohol abstinence programs require an agreement to avoid all products containing alcohol, including: Mouthwash, Nyquil® OTC medications, etc.  Consumption of these products could produce a positive test for alcohol and/or EtG and would thus violate the agreement.

About Pinnacle Health Technologies

Pinnacle Health Technologies is a one-call provider for all employee screening needs. We are a local walk-in laboratory facility that is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We have collection sites all across the United States to provide your company’s various locations with nearby fast efficient service. All documentation is done by our office and results are delivered with 24 hours from collection (GC/MS confirmation may require and additional 24 to 48 hours). Results can be telephoned, faxed, mailed, emailed or accessed online by a designated recipient established by your company. Because we have a one centralized location, you get quick answers to any questions with a single call. When it comes to the drug testing process, we are fast, flexible and accurate.

Contact

1501 North Elm Street
Denton, Texas 76201
Toll Free: 877-257-5227
Fax: 940-323-8666
8:00-5:00, Mon. – Fri.

1555 Merrimac Circle 218
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Phone 817-334-7983
Fax: 817-334-7925
9:00-6:00, Mon. – Fri.