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Other causes of failed PEth test for alcohol abuse?
My daughter undergoes periodic peth testing for alchohol abuse. She fails regularly, although swears she drinks NOTHING. We have reason to believe she is telling the truth. Assuming she is indeed not drinking, is there a physical condition or ailment that might produce positive peth tests? She is 29, has enlarged lymph nodes, some kind of mysterious condition that gives her severe hives, etc. We are wondering if some type of autoinflammation or autoimmune condition might explain elevated levels. Our daughter is FINALLY discussing this with her regular doctor but if it is some unusual condition a specialist will be needed. The reason the peth test is required is due to a nasty custody dispute with lots of allegations of misconduct. I just want to know if there is ANYTHING other than alchohol consumption that can lead to positive test results. Any thoughts or knowledge of cases? Thanks for reading.
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This PETH test is BS. Point. Blank. I know several non-drinkers who’ve tested positive and suffered the consequences.
I think it’s time to get Congress involved! In the meantime, might we not fight fire with fire? This PETH is created by an enzyme called Phospholipase D. Amazon (and many local health stores) carry things that block Phisoholipase D. Phytoceramide and Honokiol are two of them.
My $.02.
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1 ReactionHello @roxycarmichael -- welcome to Mayo Connect. Your 2¢ is worth a lot when helping another Connect member. Thank you for sharing! It sounds like you may have personal experience with PEth testing. If you are able to share, it may be helpful to other Connect members.
John
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1 ReactionOn dealing with the court system, I’ve found no traction in pointing out the potential faultiness of my PEth tests, because my judge trusts the test & his lab. Long story short, I’ve gotten nowhere with the biology argument. I’m having to go around the (wrongly) positive results. I have three negatives and two positives, all with no drinking at all. The judge is allowing For a toxicologist testifying on my behalf to explain away two recent (false) positive PEth tests over against the negative results of a hair alcohol test, negative results of a fingernail alcohol test and a polygraph (not yet taken). I’ll post the ultimate results.
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2 ReactionsThank you for sharing @fairlaneowner. Hard to believe the legal system is so messed up and allows testing with using something that is not FDA approved. Good luck on toxicologist testifying on your behalf. Hopefully the judge has a heart and listens.
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1 ReactionHi, @fairlaneowner -- just wanted to see how things are going with your process with the courts and the potential faultiness of your PEth tests?
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2 ReactionsThe morning after that evening’s surprise test, I took my own back-up test at another testing facility nearby. The sample went to the same lab (USDTL) at the surprise test for analysis. Results: negative! How can that be? How can I test positive from one tester and negative at another, within hours? The PEth test is a 2-3 week look-back. So far, Forensic DNA & Testing has shown me positive three times, where every other tester results came back negative. All of it with no alcohol consumption at all. Something isn’t right. I also recently did a fingernail EtG which came back negative, which I was told looks back 6 months. Currently I cannot see my kids because of Forensic DNA & Testing PEth Test positive results. I’m working hard to vindicate myself, included getting a toxicologist to review all the results & speak on my behalf as not drinking.
The PEth test is a non-FDA approved "Laboratory Developed Test" (LDT) that was introduced as a "confirmation test" for the EtG test. All of the "research" supporting it confirms alcohol ingestion and supporting the purported cutoff levels can be linked to those who profit from it. There is no regulation or oversight of these tests. The labs can say anything they want about them (and they do). It is no accident that these tests are only being used by the criminal justice system, child custody cases and state licensing boards (doctors, nurses) and some pilots. It is not used in employee drug testing by any unionized occupation or group that has an outside entity advocating for the best interests of the person being tested. This is not simply "junk science" but a racket designed to profit a few at the expense of many and the consequences are far reaching, grave and sometimes permanent. The problem is no counter-forces exist. It is self-evident that those who have been harmed by these tests are not able to muster the resources to provide counter-studies or debunk the experts in their individual cases. The financial conflicts of interest and "bent-science" need to be identified and exposed. There is simply no scientific basis for the misuse of these tests and those promoting and selling them need to be held accountable. A class-action is necessary sooner rather than later. See disruptedphysician.com and search by keyword "LDT" for more history on these tests
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1 ReactionHi @roxycarmichael can you explain alittle more about Phytoceramide and Honokiol? Do they help show a negative result on the PeTh blood sample?
I sent you a PM but we need to talk... Same Lab; Same test facility; same issue...
Anyone else seeing this with either USDTL and/or Forensic DNA? What other testers did you use?
I would love to join the suit based on our experience with PETH