Monitoring and had a pETh test 5.5 days ago

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I drank 2 shots (mini bottles) Friday and took a pETH test the following Thursday. I had not drank before. I didn't know or think about a pETh test. Huge mistake. It's been 3 days and no result yet. Any chance of passing? I know I risked a lot I just didn't think about it showing up for as long a pETh monitors. Thanks

sam90 said:

I dropped off blood for Peth test today and I am worried too. I didn't know that I can reschedule it as I have never done it before and don't know what to say to reschedule it. MY all tests for the last one year is negative. I am in this program primarily because once hair test caught marijuana and I am stuck in this ***. I am currently not working and going to start work from November. The only problem is I applied for the state license as recently moved to this state but prior state is still monitoring and current state has a reciprocal agreement with me and supporting me to get this state license. I am worried this license will not get screwed. Can I ask what is your weight and you finished 6 beers in how much time?

You had to do a hair test before the monitoring agreement? Why?  For a job it's usually urine. 

From others experience your test will probably be positive but I hope for you it's not.  The 24 ounce beers are more than 1 serving each. 

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I missed the work day although I informed the program but I was going through a stressful time. My program send for evaluation and everything was negative as I was not doing anything including urine and blood test but hair came back positive for marijuana and I informed them that I consumed it 2 months ago while I was on vacation but they recommended treatment and monitoring. All of that was BS to me to rip me off.

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Nursejess1214 said:

You dropped what today?  Usually no you can't reschedule. I hope you pass my friend. From past experience I drank 6 beers on 04/12 and got tested 4/24 exactly 12 days later. I did not pass my Peth was 24. I had to stop working and needed a revaluation. Basically I wasn't allowed to practice until cleared by the evaluator and my state program advocated for me to return to work. I had to be off of work for 7 weeks. It sucked. I haven't touched or try the system again. It's not worth it what so ever 

Your peth test was positive even after 12 days after?  How much and how often did you drink before the 4/12 episode?  You may have been starting with a positive peth already before the 4/12 episode.

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sam90 said:

hello,

I drank 2 regular 8% beers and 1 5% beer 2 weeks back and also drink 3 24oz beers a week ago. Before that total abstinent for one month. I am giving peth test now after a week of my last drink. I am worried that I will fail the test. Although I finished the drinks very slowly over 5 hours and have a weight of 270 lbs with BMI 34. So my BAC might not exceed 0.05. Any comments? thank you

Okay, let's create a timeline:

14 days ago - about 6.5 drinks (using a standard drink calc since you had 8% beers).

7 days ago - 6 drinks (since those 24oz beers were twice the size).

The main question here is did you drink any at all before the 14 days ago episode?  How much or how often were you drinking?

You've had about 7 days after drinking 6 drinks - your peth is most likely borderline and could be just above the 20ng cutoff.  Like others said, I would ask for a hair etg.

 

You most likely need 14 days but around 20-21 days to be safest for peth for this level of drinking.  For reference, if you had not drank anything for 4 weeks, you could probably have up to 3 or 4 drinks and your peth would remains below the 20ng cutoff.  Meaning, you can only drink that much every 3 weeks or so.  Peth is additive so closely spaced episodes keep adding to the peth level but the body takes so long to clear it.

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2 weeks back 8% beers were 12 oz, one beer was 12 oz of 5 %. so standard drinks would be almost 4 drinks. Before that I didn't drink for at least 3 months and before that 2 drinks very rarely. 

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I don't know as soon as I lowered the guard I got selected for peth, although 3 times before it was tested since last year and it was easily negative as there was no use of anything. I have been also selected for a hair test simultaneously a week ago, The day when I drank 3 24oz beers.

 

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Specializes in Psych.
sam90 said:

I don't know as soon as I lowered the guard I got selected for peth, although 3 times before it was tested since last year and it was easily negative as there was no use of anything. I have been also selected for a hair test simultaneously a week ago, The day when I drank 3 24oz beers.

 

Don't ever let your guard down in this program. They will catch u I promise! 

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Hopefully you will get lucky.  This is awful. Don't drink or do anything not allowed going forward . They will add more time at a minimum.  If you really like marijuana after you finish, move to new york. They don't test for it there unless you are impaired at work.  No food or beverages with alcohol going forward.  It won't likely show on a hair test.  Be smart going forward.  Be done and get your life back. 

Assuming you aren't an alcoholic, just bide your time and drink all you want when this is over but not at work.  

And never say you have any personal problems at work. Say you have COVID the flu etc. 

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Specializes in Nursing administration/ICU/PACU.

Why do you keep referring to the 20 cut off? How do you know what cut off they use? In NJ the cut off  number is more strict than what they use for the police. 
It's really easier to keep it simple and remain totally abstinent from alcohol and drugs while in a monitoring program. It you can't do that well then you most likely have a problem, 

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KathyMomRN said:

Why do you keep referring to the 20 cut off? How do you know what cut off they use? In NJ the cut off  number is more strict than what they use for the police. 
It's really easier to keep it simple and remain totally abstinent from alcohol and drugs while in a monitoring program. It you can't do that well then you most likely have a problem, 

20 is the peth blood test cut off. It's the common number used for cut off in all states. I agree it's not work the stress and extra time.. just don't drink while in this program! 

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KathyMomRN said:

Why do you keep referring to the 20 cut off? How do you know what cut off they use? In NJ the cut off  number is more strict than what they use for the police. 
It's really easier to keep it simple and remain totally abstinent from alcohol and drugs while in a monitoring program. It you can't do that well then you most likely have a problem, 

In criminal cases I think 500 is the cut off.  20 is the cut off for most monitoring agreements if not all. Under 20 is considered incidental exposure. 

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Specializes in Psych.
Healer555 said:

In criminal cases I think 500 is the cut off.  20 is the cut off for most monitoring agreements if not all. Under 20 is considered incidental exposure. 

I think your referring to etg for 500 

The range of PEth test results is typically categorized as light or no consumption, significant consumption, and heavy consumption:

Significant consumption 

20–200 ng/mL, which is consistent with drinking two to four drinks per day for several days 

Heavy consumption 

More than 200 ng/mL, which is consistent with drinking more than four drinks per day for several days  

Light or no consumption 

Less than 20 ng/mL, which is consistent with not drinking or drinking less than two drinks per day for several days 

 

 

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