PETH test questions

Nurses Recovery

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Hey — I got a PETH test done a few days back. I am currently a very social drinker (1 drink per week if that) however last last drink was 3 days before the PETH. I only had one cocktail. Just curious it I’d be positive based on people’s experience. I believe the cutoff is 20ng/ml which supposedly represents moderate to heavy drinking (which definitely does not apply to me) but I’m confused since there’s also a time component too (the longer you arE abstinent, it goes to zero. Thoughts?? 

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I’m a bit confused...are you in a monitoring/alternative to discipline program through your state?  Bc if so, across the board, there is a zero tolerance for alcohol policy, regardless of your substance of choice.  If you are in monitoring (since pre-employment screens wouldn’t invest the money into routine pETh testing and alcohol is not a controlled substance for ppl 21+)....you absolutely MUST re-read the terms of your monitoring agreement.  Alcohol is prohibited.  If you are a social drinker, it has to stop 100% ASAP.  This WILL become a violation of your contract.

 

best of luck to you

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Thank you for the warning. Well aware of what needs to be done. Do you have any insight into answering my question?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27596747/

"PEth could be detected for up to 12 days after a single drinking event"

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Good luck. I made a little mistake three days before my Peth test and was ordered to restart program which meant another 3 years was added and had to see an addiction psychologist for almost $1,000 to keep me out of in patient rehab. They don’t mess around!  

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Specializes in SNF/rehabilitation.

I had a few drinks exactly one week  before my peth test and nothing at all for weeks before that and I failed. It sucks but lesson learned! 

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On 4/2/2021 at 12:47 AM, StacyLynnRN said:

I had a few drinks exactly one week  before my peth test and nothing at all for weeks before that and I failed. It sucks but lesson learned! 

How much is a "few drinks" exactly?  Because something like the OP is talking about, 1 social drink, is not going to show up in a Peth test.

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