Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTest TypesPositive ResultsNegative ResultsTest AccuracyUsing Test StripsAlternative TestsCan Alcohol Metabolism Be Sped Up?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Test Types
Positive Results
Negative Results
Test Accuracy
Using Test Strips
Alternative Tests
Can Alcohol Metabolism Be Sped Up?
While there are many different types of laboratory tests for alcohol use—including blood, breath, saliva, and hair tests—the most accessibleat-home testis a urine test.
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Alcohol Urine Test Types
Ethanol
Ethanol is the form of alcohol that you can drink. The ethanol test is a basic test that measures the amount of ethanol excreted in your urine. Since your body processes alcohol quickly, this test is most accurate within 12 hours of consumption.
One limitation of the ethanol test is that it is not selective and may produce a positive result with other alcohol-containing substances likemouthwash.
Ethyl Sulfate (EtS)
Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG)
Positive Results and Alcohol Range
Alcohol metabolites detected on a urine test can indicate recent consumption—although results might depend on how much time passed between your last drink and testing.
A “high” positive detects 1,000 nanograms of metabolites per milliliter of urine (ng/mL) or more and can indicate:
A “low” positive result detects between 500 and 1,000 ng/mL of alcohol metabolites and can indicate:
If your homeurine testproduces a negative result, it could mean that the test did not detect any alcohol metabolites in your urine or that too much time passed between the last drink and the time you took the urine alcohol test. A lab test will produce a more accurate result.
Home urine tests will produce a positive result with the presence of:
Laboratory tests are typically sensitive to 100 ng/mL of EtG and 25 ng/mL of EtS, but commercial home tests usually only detect 500 nl/mL or more. The goal of the higher detection threshold is to avoid false positives—a positive result after no alcohol consumption—according to manufacturers.
What Could Skew Results?
How to Use Test Strips
For best results, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the test you are using. Generally speaking, you will remove a test strip from the packaging and dip it into a urine sample for 10 to 15 seconds.
Urine Test Alternatives
There are a lot of ways to test for alcohol use.
Does Anything Rid Urine of Alcohol Fast?
You cannot take supplements or use other methods like drinking water or coffee to speed up your body’s metabolism of alcohol and eliminate alcohol from the blood. Things like body weight and composition, age, andalcohol tolerance influence alcohol metabolism.
Summary
Home testing kits are useful in screening for alcohol and other substances. Lab tests are the most accurate, but the next best option is home tests using urine samples. These tests are accurate, but their sensitivity decreases as time passes since the last use.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, speak to a healthcare provider who can support you with a treatment plan and direct you to local resources and support.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Addiction Centers.How long does alcohol stay in your system?Orlando Recovery Center.How long does alcohol stay in urine?Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: ETGC.Medical Disposables Corp.MD EtG-114 urine alcohol test.National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health: alcohol metabolism.Medical University of South Carolina.About urine ethylglucuronide (EtG) testing.MedlinePlus.Drug testing.United States Drug Testing Laboratories.Hair drug testing.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Addiction Centers.How long does alcohol stay in your system?Orlando Recovery Center.How long does alcohol stay in urine?Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: ETGC.Medical Disposables Corp.MD EtG-114 urine alcohol test.National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health: alcohol metabolism.Medical University of South Carolina.About urine ethylglucuronide (EtG) testing.MedlinePlus.Drug testing.United States Drug Testing Laboratories.Hair drug testing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Addiction Centers.How long does alcohol stay in your system?Orlando Recovery Center.How long does alcohol stay in urine?Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: ETGC.Medical Disposables Corp.MD EtG-114 urine alcohol test.National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health: alcohol metabolism.Medical University of South Carolina.About urine ethylglucuronide (EtG) testing.MedlinePlus.Drug testing.United States Drug Testing Laboratories.Hair drug testing.
American Addiction Centers.How long does alcohol stay in your system?
Orlando Recovery Center.How long does alcohol stay in urine?
Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: ETGC.
Medical Disposables Corp.MD EtG-114 urine alcohol test.
National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health: alcohol metabolism.
Medical University of South Carolina.About urine ethylglucuronide (EtG) testing.
MedlinePlus.Drug testing.
United States Drug Testing Laboratories.Hair drug testing.
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