Connect
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.
Connect
Uh, well they haven’t in the last TEN YEARS they’ve known about it. And fighting it bankrupted me.
And yes. “They” know. They’ve known. That is not the issue. Until a body with the appropriate juris prudence steps in, they will continue to do what they do. Too much money to be made off our backs to stop voluntarily.
But progress is being made...
Oh, and drinking water only isn’t gonna stop it. I repeat, it is most likely NOT ANYTHING you did. You cannot control the false positive. They happen due to THEIR errors, not yours. This has been a misconception (especially adopted by MROs) for years.
And another “oh”... you’re really not well ADA protected either. That avenue is available, but not as obvious as you may think. I have spoken personally with ADA specialty lawyers about it.
Yeah, these monitoring programs seem to operate above HIPAA and other regulations in the name of “public safety.” Shady toxicology and economic extortion aside, they get access to all my medical records. What is even the point having a therapist if they get all the records? I can’t be honest.
Just a follow-up. My whole blood peth came back negative. Taken 10 days after my positive DBS was collected. Apparently I’ve gone from binge drinking/daily drinking to passing in just over a week! LOL. The DBS test is horrible and faulty. In my case I suspect fermentation (as toolsd said) or due to the layering of the blood drops.
Glad to hear that. Hopefully the powers that be realize it as well... good luck!
Thanks! And thanks to this forum I learned about the DBS test and was able to get a whole blood which will hopefully help my case. I will never get the DBS without a second test done again.
Another follow-up to my case, the MRO ruled my peth “intentional alcohol consumption.” No consideration of my own negative test, my negative hair, negative UAs, and negative soberlink tests. Recommends 3 months with negative peths and another eval at their treatment center (very convenient $$$).
USDTL won’t release my test results or the litigation package to me. I also asked the treatment center to run the remaining DBSs at a different lab at my cost (they seemed confused by the request, even though the MRO had mentioned it). This all seems so shady.
I guess my question is...am I going to need to lawyer up? This is going to drain my assets. I don’t even know why I am even doing this anymore...I don’t really even enjoy working in healthcare. And this monitoring program is crazy.
MROs look at the number and that’s pretty much it. They don’t get real training in PETH, I know one of the nations leading certification guy.
Lawyering up will help if you get the privilege of a court. In front of a board, much less likely to matter.
If you do lawyer up, I have a bunch of information you will likely want.
Oh, and rerunning the test will likely not do any good. There is likely Peth in that blood as they found, it just didn’t get there by drinking.
It will go to UT San Antonio, who also knows there is a problem, but merrily goes along “confirming” at a cutoff of FOUR ng/ml with no consideration of variance which they cannot explain.