Different types of tests are used depending on what they are testing for; if the probation officers are only looking for alcohol they will use an EtG urine screen test.
EtG, also known as the Ethyl Glucuronide test, makes screening for alcohol incredibly easy. EtG is formed in the liver by the combination of the alcohol and the liver’s natural glucoronic acid, and is discharged by the body in urine. It can be detected as soon as two hours after alcohol has been consumed and can still be present up to 80 hours after consumption.
Studies show that EtG screening is an accurate way of detecting whether someone has imbibed alcohol recently, regardless of their previous drinking habits, so a heavy drinker who has abstained recently will get a clear test. There is no way of passing an EtG test if alcohol has been recently drunk, so it is an effective and non-invasive way of determining whether someone who should not be dinking, actually is.
A positive EtG result certainly means that an individual has had alcohol, because ethanol has been processed by the liver, but it isn’t possible to tell just how much alcohol has been consumed because each person’s liver will react differently, and it will also depend upon how recently the alcohol was consumed rather than how much.
The threshold for EtG testing is 500ng/ml. This level means it is impossible to get a false positive reading that may occur if a smaller level was accepted and an individual is exposed to incidental environmental alcohol-based products.
It isn’t expensive for an EtG test, just $7.50, but if there is a dispute and confirmation is needed, it will cost $30 for further testing.
EtG, also known as the Ethyl Glucuronide test, makes screening for alcohol incredibly easy. EtG is formed in the liver by the combination of the alcohol and the liver’s natural glucoronic acid, and is discharged by the body in urine. It can be detected as soon as two hours after alcohol has been consumed and can still be present up to 80 hours after consumption.
Studies show that EtG screening is an accurate way of detecting whether someone has imbibed alcohol recently, regardless of their previous drinking habits, so a heavy drinker who has abstained recently will get a clear test. There is no way of passing an EtG test if alcohol has been recently drunk, so it is an effective and non-invasive way of determining whether someone who should not be dinking, actually is.
A positive EtG result certainly means that an individual has had alcohol, because ethanol has been processed by the liver, but it isn’t possible to tell just how much alcohol has been consumed because each person’s liver will react differently, and it will also depend upon how recently the alcohol was consumed rather than how much.
The threshold for EtG testing is 500ng/ml. This level means it is impossible to get a false positive reading that may occur if a smaller level was accepted and an individual is exposed to incidental environmental alcohol-based products.
It isn’t expensive for an EtG test, just $7.50, but if there is a dispute and confirmation is needed, it will cost $30 for further testing.
