Ethyl Glucuronide
This page was last updated: July 30, 2006
A test to monitor and encourage abstinence...
Case Reports
Dilute Urine Testing
31 yr old doctor, whose drug of choice was alcohol in random testing program. Urine drug test report was negative except for a Creatinine of 11.3 and Sp Gr 1.001. He stated he had "no idea why it might be dilute." He denied drinking or having any problems. His therapy group leader reported good attendance and progress. His worksite monitor knew of no problem.
EtG on the diluted specimen was ordered and returned positive at 5,300 ug/L. He was notified regarding the positive EtG test indicating alcohol use. He did not deny drinking nor did he admit it. The issue wasn't pressed. He was, however, encouraged to bring it up in his monitoring groups. His therapist subsequently verified that he had admitted to the group that he'd been drinking the past few weekends. This relapse was detected very early.
If you have an interesting case report regarding use of EtG in a clinical setting please send it to us and we'll post it for others benefit. Do not mention any identifiable information regarding the case!
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Positive Urine Alcohol and Alcohol Use Denied
51 year old FP in monitoring 6 weeks following treatment. He appeared to be doing very well but a positive urine alcohol was reported on a random screen, at .1g%. Urine creatinine was 258 and there was no glucose. The patient denied alcohol use. EtG test was performed on the same sample and was negative. It is therefore assumed, at this time, that the urine alcohol was present because of fermentation, in-vitro, after collection.
Post New Years Eve Missed Screen
A 44 year-old surgeon missed a random urine test on January 2. An EtG was performed on the next sample, on Jan 12. The standard urine screen was negative for alcohol and other drugs. The EtG result was >10,000 ng/ml. When given this information the doctor stated that he'd partied at New Years and "had a few drinks." He was referred for reevaluation.
Poor Compliance - Communion Wine Excuse
A physician with a history of multiple relapses was tested for EtG following reports by his girlfriend that he'd been drinking. The result was 860 ng/ml. No other test in the drug screen was positive. When confronted he claimed that he takes communion several times per week and this is why the test was positive. He was referred for evaluation which was inconclusive. His assistance agreement will be updated to include abstinence from any consumption of alcohol and his monitoring will be intensified. Within a month he was arrested for drunkeness and admitted several months of clandestine alcohol use.
