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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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To the moderators: we do appreciate this venue. This one thread has done a ton of good for people from all walks of life. I didn’t find it until about page 5 or later. I am now in touch with most of the contributors over the last two years.
There is a serious problem with peth testing and it’s devastated who knows how many lives and families. Thanks in part to this thread, we are finally making headway and I believe will restore some of the damage done. Thanks!
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2 ReactionsHi all! My husband is a pharmacist, got a DUI in 2014, went to rehab, lost his pharmacy license for a year, and has been doing monthly random drug testing since. His drug testing program swapped to USDTL roughly a year ago and they began PETH testing. He has always had NEGATIVE results until March 2020, with a positive PETH finger prick. He was required to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the facility due to covid. They did not have him wash his hands. The results came back as 127. The hand sanitizer used an ethanol based hand sanitizer, but the USDTL contact aka “the expert” says there is no way this affected his result. We paid the extra $250 for a retest which was also positive and only 54. They let him in the second chance program due to no prior positive tests and now has to randomly test 2x per month costing us $750 a month. Well, today he got a call stating his PETH finger prick was again positive at 52. They refuse to do a nail test saying that a negative nail test (even though it goes back 3 months) will not invalidate the PETH test, even though the previous test was PETH and hair etg, both negative. We now have to pay $800 for a lie detector test. This is absolutely insane. USDTL will not talk to customers, only collection sites. He was just off for the entire week prior to the test, so basically they are telling me that during our staycation with our 3 kids my husband was drinking everyday. Local contacts are not helpful. I am 100% sure my husband is not drinking. His program was ending in August, so I find it convenient that now he is having issues when he has done the 5 years of required testing after rehab and per the board of pharmacy. With a second positive test he is facing losing is pharmacy license and possible rehab again. It is like they want to stress him out so maybe he will drink. The PETH test cannot be accurate. I don’t believe all of these people can have this many false positives. He also knows a guy that has also had 2 false positives with PETH. They are trying to ruin people’s lives.
Hello @slw2227282, Welcome to Connect. It's hard to believe how the PETH test can be still be used after so much attention and false positives. Hopefully, something can be done.
@toolsd posted an article that might be helpful in an earlier post and may be able to offer more suggestions or help.
Recently written by Dr Skipper.
https://www.centerforprofessionalrecovery.com/specificity-of-phosphatidylethanol-as-a-marker-for-alcoholic-beverage-consumption/
@mllangan1 aslo shared an article in an earlier post and may have other information or suggestions.
Phosphatidylethanol: The Potential Role in Further Evaluating Low Positive Urinary Ethyl Glucuronide and Ethyl Sulfate Results:
https://cdn.prod-carehubs.net/n1/748e8fe697af5de8/uploads/2020/02/PEth-Article-in-ACER.pdf
@slw2227282 is your husband going to any support meetings where he may be able to talk with other people that had similar experiences?
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2 ReactionsI had to contact a lawyer for my case. I had the same situation zero positives in almost 3 years and had the finger prick test come back 274. Have not had a sip of alcohol in that timeframe. There is a serious issue with this PEth blood spot testing method and am hoping it is brought forward. The lawyer I am working with is actually working with a very similar case as mine with USDTL and the same contact you are most likely referring to.
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1 ReactionJoin the club. Its a corrupt system and USDTL is the only lab that does peth testing so they have a monopoly on the testing. Its not that peth testing is faulty or not faulty, its that peth testing is too accurate meaning it picks up every little piece of alcohol that you are exposed to, yes even sanitizer. Even breathing in alcohol causes peth. The so called experts say that sanitizer doesn't affect it but they are lying and they know it does. If this test were to be proven ineffective for drug monitoring, they would lose a major cash cow not to mention be hugely liable for peoples lives and careers that were ruined. The more of us that are involved the better.
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1 ReactionWe are also considering a lawyer. I understand some people do not learn their lesson. But many do. He didn’t even test positive when he was forced into rehab. He is not perfect, but he certainly understands the consequences. The profiteers of PETH are predatory. And they still say there are no “false positives.” I am so sorry that you have also been affected and for all of the victims of this scheme.
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2 ReactionsHe only has the one contact that has divulged they had false positives. His local contact/caseworker just keeps saying the test is only positive through oral ingestion of ethanol. He doesn’t even wear deodorant anymore bc of fear that something he has always used will cause a false positive. He has sent the experts articles and they basically ignore them since the experts say there are no false positives reported.
Yess! The woman at USDTL was rude and said there was nobody at USDTL that would talk to me. Also, why are they doing these hair, nail, urine tests randomly if they give them zero creed when their results are needed to show sobriety if a positive PETH. I also find it coincidental that these “positive” tests were when they only ordered the PETH. When in conjunction with another test, always negative.
USDTL is not the only source of PeTH test. Just the more questionable finger prick ones. I highly suggest you start dual testing at quest/request a test/ labcorp site that uses the Blood drawn version from labcorp. I can provide direct proof from my wife that you can fail the finger prick test from usdtl and pass the labcorp one taken minutes apart (drive time). Something in the fingerpick one is screwy. Read my prior posts for other tips. All this said you are still fighting a highly corrupt system but I would sure farther be doing it with conflicting same day PeTH tests than without.
I should also add there is another member of this board that has seen conflicting USDTL tests taken same day at different test sites. I personally do not trust USDTL enough to retest with them same day but you might even consider that too. My best recommendation is the labcorp test. And for anyone that does tests at two places with conflicting results I would appreciate it if you contact me. Would also be interested in re-affirmed results if not drinking. I particularly worry all the hand sanitizer use going on is going to cause lots of problems for a lot of people.