Peth alcohol testing (whole blood and finger prick) Real-world examples here

Published

Wanted to post 2 real-world examples on here since there are so many posts asking about Peth testing and how long it takes to become negative and how many drinks.  The 1st example is on the lighter side of drinking and 2nd example is "heavier."  I got my own lab tests to do these (order online and pay with credit card, confirmation comes, and then you go to CVS/Walgreens/Labcorp or other labs that the website tells you to).  

Wanted to enjoy a few drinks on a Friday - drank 3 standard size drinks (three 1.5 oz measured pours) of Bourbon (40% ABV) within 1.5 hours starting at 6pm on an empty stomach.  Had not drank for 6 weeks prior to this episode.  After 3 days later, on Monday - Got my own Peth blood test at a lab and the results = negative, below 20ng level of detection.

Another time, went to a tailgate party on a Friday - had 7 standard drinks from 11am to 3pm.  Went to a 2nd tailgate party on Saturday, had 7.5 standard drinks from 10am to 3pm.  Both days were on an empty stomach.  Had not drank for 5 weeks prior to this episode.  10 days later in the morning - Got my own Peth blood test at a lab and the results = 48 ng/ml.   So this is above the established medical cutoff of 20ng/ml and considered positive.

I would probably have been negative in ANOTHER 7-10 days if we consider the half-life of Peth is around 4-5 days.  So I would have a negative Peth after that fairly heavy drinking episode weekend after 17-20 days.  So this also goes in line when they say a Peth blood test "can detect alcohol consumption up to 28 days.”  If I drank even heavier, it would maybe take 28 days to get below 20ng/ml.

Conclusions:

-If Peth is near 0, then a light drinking episode will not raise it above the cutoff of 20ng (as my 3 day example above).  This is confirmed with a study on the internet as well.

-Heavy drinking 10 drinks or more - You could be negative with Peth after 2 weeks, but really need 3 weeks/21days to be very safe.

-THE MOST IMPORTANT - Peth is additive so ALWAYS need 4 weeks of no drinking so you start with a near 0 Peth level for any chance of passing tests before the 28 day mark

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

These are good benchmarks.  I am now passing into the 2nd half of my monitoring period and I have noticed getting more "random" Peth tests on the RecoveryTrek app!  It's crazy!  It's a $100 or $120 test and now I'm having to go to the lab for Peth tests.  I'm not sure how often this will be. . 

Peth tests are scary - they are very sensitive.  They are multiple times scarier than hair tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Something else that was tested by a colleague - the Peth using whole blood and the peth value using a finger prick is the same result.  One is not more accurate than the other or less accurate.  

Just remember that if you are getting a DBS finger prick (dried blood spot) test, they are most likely testing an entire panel, which includes medications like SSRIs, benzos, cannabis, PCP, opiates and like a list of 20 other things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Universe93B said:

Something else that was tested by a colleague - the Peth using whole blood and the peth value using a finger prick is the same result.  One is not more accurate than the other or less accurate.  

Just remember that if you are getting a DBS finger prick (dried blood spot) test, they are most likely testing an entire panel, which includes medications like SSRIs, benzos, cannabis, PCP, opiates and like a list of 20 other things.

I never really understood why they tested for SSRI's? Insane to me that they even do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Helenalsephinacat said:

I never really understood why they tested for SSRI's? Insane to me that they even do that.

Maybe because they are "mood altering?" I'm guessing someone ever has abuses them or appeared impaired at work due to them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wait are SSRIs not allowed? I am prescribed them and they help me. I would hope I'm not cut off of them:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursrcy00901 said:

Wait are SSRIs not allowed? I am prescribed them and they help me. I would hope I'm not cut off of them:o

If they are prescribed and approved  you should be fine. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Healer555 said:

Maybe because they are "mood altering?" I'm guessing someone ever has abuses them or appeared impaired at work due to them.

That's kind of insane if that's really the case tbh LOL. There's no way a person can get high off an SSRI

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursrcy00901 said:

Wait are SSRIs not allowed? I am prescribed them and they help me. I would hope I'm not cut off of them:o

Here's what I found out about the SSRI part and why they are checked.  There are some in monitoring with a contract that actually specifies that they get a DBS finger prick test every month (expensive!).  That could be due to them showing that they are endangering patients due to their mental illness and medication noncompliance.  That's why they are checking to see if you are taking your SSRIs, antipsychotics or whatever regularly.  Not really to see if we are getting  high off it.  

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Universe93B said:

Here's what I found out about the SSRI part and why they are checked.  There are some in monitoring with a contract that actually specifies that they get a DBS finger prick test every month (expensive!).  That could be due to them showing that they are endangering patients due to their mental illness and medication noncompliance.  That's why they are checking to see if you are taking your SSRIs, antipsychotics or whatever regularly.  Not really to see if we are getting  high off it.  

But we would get penalized if we took antidepressants without permission. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Healer555 said:

But we would get penalized if we took antidepressants without permission. 

Yeah, of course - you need a prescription for any of those.  If you have one, that's fine.  But there are people out there getting a $120 test every month in addition to their urine ETGs 3X a month, and who know what else.  

Ridiculous that this is called "recovery." 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Universe93B said:

Yeah, of course - you need a prescription for any of those.  If you have one, that's fine.  But there are people out there getting a $120 test every month in addition to their urine ETGs 3X a month, and who know what else.  

Ridiculous that this is called "recovery." 

It's definitely not recovery.  I hope to recover from this trauma of having a monitoring agreement when this is over. It's a money grab and a power trip.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion