Alcohol etg - Saliva test

Nurses Recovery

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I’m in monitoring/probation and instead of urine screens, we have the option to use oral/saliva swabs that’s recorded on an app and then you send it in to test for drugs and alcohol etg.

the brand is Intercept by Orasure.  
 

how is the detection period/time length of detecting etg for alcohol vs urine?  I know urine is the gold standard.   Old studies show etg in oral fluid only lasts 24 hours but I heard technology has improved since then?

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Ohh thats kind of cool! I think I'd be a little worried that it might more easily pick up mouthwash with alcohol, vanilla in food, soy sauce, etc

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7 hours ago, TIMFY said:

Ohh thats kind of cool! I think I'd be a little worried that it might more easily pick up mouthwash with alcohol, vanilla in food, soy sauce, etc

Well, this test measures etg in saliva, not the typical breath or direct alcohol content like the typical saliva test.  
 

so wondering how long etg is in saliva compared to urine?  This test came out due to covid issues, so people can just test at home (altho this test is more expensive).

I would guess etg is detectable for a shorter time period than urine?

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Specializes in Addiction Medicine, ER, and Psychiatry.

Hello,

I have never been subject to a saliva test, so I did some research. I hope it helps! This is what I was able to find:

Test & Time to clear detection:

Saliva: 10 to 24 hours (no matter how much consumed)

Blood: 12 oz beer or 1.5 oz liquor per hour per unit

Urine: 80 hours hrs .

Hair: Up to 90 days

Take care.

Here is my link to the source:

https://addiction-treatment-services.com/alcohol/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system/

 

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Thank you!! That’s what I thought, but I found it odd that they would give someone working in healthcare the option of a saliva drug test vs urine?   Yeah you can detect many drugs in saliva but the detection time is lower, especially for alcohol. 

so I didn’t know if they found a new method to detect etg in saliva but I can’t find anything.   Only thing is this very old study that might be outdated:

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20663284/

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Specializes in Addiction Medicine, ER, and Psychiatry.

Hello, Universe93,

Thanks for that article. I did see that one, but I was afraid to post it because I could not get beyond the abstract. I've never had luck with PubMed articles in all the research that I've had to do for my master's, unfortunately. It does look like intriguing info, though. 

If selected, will you use this method?

Thanks?

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I would think they would probably supplement with PETH tests every few months (can detect alcohol use up to a month) if the saliva tests aren't as sensitive as the urine tests

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6 hours ago, TrailRunnerRN said:

Hello, Universe93,

Thanks for that article. I did see that one, but I was afraid to post it because I could not get beyond the abstract. I've never had luck with PubMed articles in all the research that I've had to do for my master's, unfortunately. It does look like intriguing info, though. 

If selected, will you use this method?

Thanks?

Yep, I’ve been selected a few times on the Recoverytrek app and chose to do the Proof Intercept saliva test - they record you on the app and then you send it in.

 

like TIMFY said, maybe they supplement with Peth every now and then if Etg is not detectable for a long time in saliva?  
 

But that’s why I’m asking  the effectiveness of etg in oral fluids because I don’t want to pay for expensive Peth tests frequently either!   I didn’t think information would be so scarce on Etg/ets levels in saliva.  

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Specializes in RPh.

Did you find out how long etg is in saliva

Is etg longer in saliva or urine 

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On 7/12/2022 at 11:25 AM, Anndukefann said:

Did you find out how long etg is in saliva

Is etg longer in saliva or urine 

I still don’t have a clear answer, at least not one I’ve confident of.  I contacted Orasure, the makers of the saliva Intercept test.  They replied that etg is detectable in saliva for around 12 hours.   That matches the 2010 study posted here.   
 

but I was just making sure if new technology improved that detection time.  I’m assuming no since there’s no updated info from when the testing product company?

 

here’s the test many nurses and health professionals use:

collectwithproof.com 

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Specializes in PCU/oncology.

Did you ever find out how long the saliva etg was? 

 

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15 hours ago, mdesrey said:

Did you ever find out how long the saliva etg was? 

 

I emailed the manufacturer of the Orasure Intercept oral fluid testing company and asked about Etg/EtS testing in saliva.  They sent me a PDF document from CRL, Clinical Reference Laboratory, stating that Etg is detectable in saliva up to 11.5 hours.  That document is from 2015 and the studies it references are the ones from 2010 that are talked about on this thread already.  Other substances such as opiates, THC etc in saliva are detectable up to 2-3 days, so much longer there.

See, I thought technology had improved in a way that made Etg detectable longer than saliva.

I wonder why I'm allowed to use this saliva test vs the typical urine Etg (this was started during covid and a way to avoid the lab lines).  I've been in the probation program for 6 months now and have not gotten any Peth tests either.

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