An EtG (ethyl glucuronide) test is a urine test that detects a metabolite of alcohol called ethyl glucuronide. It can detect alcohol consumption for up to 80 hours (about 3.5 days) after drinking — far longer than a breathalyzer (12 to 24 hours) or blood alcohol test (about 12 hours). It is primarily used by probation offices, drug courts, and professional monitoring programs to verify abstinence from alcohol.

How long does alcohol stay in your urine for an EtG test?

Detection time depends on how much you drank. Light drinking (1 drink): 12 to 24 hours. Moderate drinking (2 to 4 drinks): 24 to 48 hours. Heavy drinking (5+ drinks): 48 to 80+ hours. These ranges are based on the standard 500 ng/mL cutoff. At the stricter 100 ng/mL cutoff, detection windows are longer. Individual factors like body weight, metabolism, liver function, and hydration also affect detection time.

Can hand sanitizer cause a positive EtG test?

Yes. Research has shown that ethanol from alcohol-based hand sanitizer is absorbed primarily through inhalation (not through the skin) and can produce EtG levels above the 100 ng/mL cutoff and potentially above the 500 ng/mL cutoff with heavy or prolonged use. If you are being monitored by EtG testing, use alcohol-free hand sanitizer (benzalkonium chloride-based) instead.

Can mouthwash cause a positive EtG test?

Yes. Many mouthwashes (Listerine, Scope, and most generic brands) contain 21 to 27% ethanol. Using these products can cause a positive EtG result, especially at the 100 ng/mL cutoff. Switch to alcohol-free mouthwash (such as Biotene or Act Alcohol Free) if you are being monitored.

Can kombucha cause a positive EtG test?

Yes. Kombucha contains small amounts of alcohol (typically 0.5 to 3%) from the fermentation process. Drinking kombucha can produce enough EtG in your urine to trigger a positive result, especially at the 100 ng/mL cutoff. Avoid kombucha and other fermented beverages if you are subject to EtG testing.

What is the standard EtG cutoff level for probation?

Most probation offices and drug courts use a 500 ng/mL cutoff, which reduces false positives from incidental exposure. Some stricter programs (professional monitoring for nurses, lawyers, or pilots) may use a 100 ng/mL cutoff. The specific cutoff depends on your jurisdiction and the terms of your supervision. At 500 ng/mL, a positive result generally indicates alcohol consumption within the past 48 hours.

What happens if I fail an EtG test on probation?

Failing an EtG test while on probation is typically a violation of your conditions of supervision. Consequences vary by jurisdiction and may include a warning from your probation officer, increased testing frequency, mandatory treatment or counseling, community service, modification of probation terms, or revocation of probation leading to incarceration. If you believe the result is a false positive, inform your attorney and probation officer immediately and request EtS confirmation testing.

Is an EtG test more accurate than a breathalyzer?

An EtG test has a much longer detection window (up to 80 hours vs. 12 to 24 hours for a breathalyzer), but it is not necessarily more 'accurate.' A breathalyzer measures current blood alcohol level and indicates current impairment. An EtG test detects past alcohol consumption (even after you are completely sober) but cannot determine how much you drank or whether you were impaired. The two tests serve different purposes: breathalyzers for current impairment, EtG for abstinence monitoring.

Can an EtG test tell how much I drank?

Not precisely. Higher EtG levels generally correlate with heavier drinking, but the exact concentration is affected by many individual factors (body weight, liver function, hydration, time since drinking). Courts and probation officers generally interpret results in ranges: below 500 ng/mL may indicate incidental exposure or very light drinking, 500 to 1,000 ng/mL indicates likely drinking, and above 1,000 ng/mL strongly indicates heavy or recent drinking. However, EtG is best used as a binary indicator (drinking vs. not drinking) rather than a precise measurement of consumption.

How do I dispute a false positive EtG result?

If you believe your EtG result is a false positive, take these steps immediately: (1) inform your probation officer and/or attorney, (2) request confirmation testing with EtS (ethyl sulfate), which is not affected by the same false-positive triggers, (3) document any products you used that contain ethanol (hand sanitizer, mouthwash, medications, foods), (4) request a retest as soon as possible. If the EtG is positive but EtS is negative, this supports a false-positive finding. Courts increasingly recognize the limitations of EtG testing at low cutoffs, especially regarding incidental exposure.

EtG Test: How Long Does Alcohol Stay Detectable?

What is EtG, detection windows by drinking amount, false positives from hand sanitizer and mouthwash, cutoff levels, and who uses this test.

Last updated: 2026-03-25

Quick Answer

An EtG (ethyl glucuronide) test is a urine test that detects a metabolite of alcohol for up to 80 hours (about 3.5 days) after drinking. It is far more sensitive than a breathalyzer, which only detects alcohol for 12 to 24 hours. EtG tests are most commonly used by probation and parole offices, drug courts, professional licensing boards (nursing, law, aviation), and some employers.

The standard cutoff is 500 ng/mL, which generally indicates drinking within the past 48 hours. A lower cutoff of 100 ng/mL can detect very light drinking or incidental exposure but is more prone to false positives from products like hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and certain foods. If you are being monitored by EtG testing, you should avoid all products containing ethanol — not just alcoholic beverages.

Detection Windows by Drinking Amount

Amount	Also Known As	Detection Window	Notes
Heavy drinking (5+ drinks)	Binge drinking, heavy session	48 to 80+ hours	Heavy drinking produces high EtG levels that remain detectable for 3 to 5 days. Levels above 1,000 ng/mL strongly indicate heavy recent consumption. Individual variation in metabolism, body weight, and liver function can extend or shorten this window.
Moderate drinking (2-4 drinks)	Social drinking, a few beers/glasses of wine	24 to 48 hours	Moderate drinking is reliably detected for 24 to 48 hours at the standard 500 ng/mL cutoff. At the lower 100 ng/mL cutoff, detection may extend to 60 hours. EtG levels peak 6 to 18 hours after the last drink.
Light drinking (1 drink)	One beer, one glass of wine, one shot	12 to 24 hours	A single standard drink typically produces detectable EtG for 12 to 24 hours at the 500 ng/mL cutoff. At the 100 ng/mL cutoff, a single drink may be detectable for up to 36 hours. EtG concentration depends heavily on individual metabolism.
Incidental exposure (hand sanitizer, mouthwash)	Hand sanitizer, Listerine, NyQuil, cooking wine, kombucha	May trigger positive for 12 to 24 hours at low cutoffs	Products containing ethanol can cause analytically true-positive but forensically false-positive EtG results. Hand sanitizer exposure through inhalation (not skin absorption) is the most documented cause. Mouthwash with ethanol (some contain up to 27% alcohol), alcohol-containing medications (NyQuil, cough syrups), and fermented foods (kombucha, sauerkraut, ripe fruit) have all been reported to cause positives at the 100 ng/mL cutoff.

EtG Cutoff Levels — What the Numbers Mean

Cutoff Level	Interpretation	Used By	False Positive Risk
500 ng/mL	Standard cutoff — indicates recent drinking (within ~48 hours)	Most probation offices, drug courts, employers	Low — incidental exposure rarely produces levels this high
100 ng/mL	Strict cutoff — detects very light drinking or recent incidental exposure	Some drug courts, professional monitoring programs (nursing, law, aviation), strict abstinence programs	Moderate — hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and fermented foods can trigger positives at this level
1,000+ ng/mL	High positive — strongly indicates heavy or recent drinking	Interpretation level used by MROs and courts, not a separate test	Very low — incidental exposure does not produce levels this high

What Is EtG? How Does It Differ from a Breathalyzer?

EtG (ethyl glucuronide) is a direct metabolite of ethanol (alcohol) produced by the liver. When you drink alcohol, your body breaks it down into several metabolites, including EtG and EtS (ethyl sulfate). These metabolites remain in your urine long after the alcohol itself has been eliminated from your blood and breath. A breathalyzer detects alcohol vapor in your breath and is only effective for 12 to 24 hours after drinking. A standard blood alcohol test detects alcohol for about 12 hours. An EtG urine test can detect the metabolite for up to 80 hours (about 3.5 days). This is why EtG testing is the preferred method for monitoring abstinence in probation, drug court, and professional monitoring programs — it catches drinking that a breathalyzer would miss.

False Positives — Critical Information for People on Probation

EtG false positives are a real and documented concern, especially at the lower 100 ng/mL cutoff. Products that can cause false positives include: hand sanitizer (the ethanol is absorbed primarily through inhalation, not skin), mouthwash containing ethanol (Listerine, Scope, and many generic brands contain 21-27% alcohol), alcohol-containing medications (NyQuil, certain cough syrups, Robitussin), cooking with wine or beer (some ethanol may remain even after cooking), kombucha and other fermented beverages (contain 0.5-3% alcohol), overripe fruit, vinegar-based foods, and some non-alcoholic beers (may contain up to 0.5% alcohol). If you are being monitored by EtG testing, the safest approach is to avoid ALL products containing ethanol. Use alcohol-free hand sanitizer, alcohol-free mouthwash (like Biotene or Act Alcohol Free), and avoid fermented foods. If you believe you received a false positive, inform your probation officer or attorney immediately and request confirmation testing with EtS (ethyl sulfate), which is not affected by the same types of incidental exposure.

EtS Confirmation Testing — Why It Matters

EtS (ethyl sulfate) is another alcohol metabolite that is often tested alongside EtG for confirmation. EtS is important because it is more stable than EtG in urine samples. In rare cases, EtG can form in the urine sample after collection (in vitro) if the sample contains bacteria and glucose — this can happen with urinary tract infections or uncontrolled diabetes. EtS is not affected by this post-collection synthesis, so a positive EtS result alongside a positive EtG result provides stronger evidence of actual alcohol consumption. Many courts and laboratories now test for both EtG and EtS together. If your EtG is positive but your EtS is negative, this may indicate a false positive caused by incidental exposure or post-collection formation, not actual drinking.

Who Uses EtG Testing?

EtG testing is used primarily in situations where complete abstinence from alcohol must be verified. Probation and parole offices use EtG testing for individuals whose conditions of supervision include no alcohol use, especially in DUI/DWI cases and alcohol-related offenses. Drug courts routinely use EtG as part of their monitoring protocols. Professional licensing boards for nurses, doctors, lawyers, and pilots use EtG to monitor professionals in recovery programs. Some sober living homes and residential treatment programs use EtG testing for residents. Employers rarely use EtG testing for pre-employment screening, but it may be ordered for workplace accident investigations. Child custody cases may include EtG testing to verify a parent's abstinence from alcohol.

How EtG Testing Works — The Process

An EtG test requires a urine sample. The sample is collected at a lab, clinic, or probation office under standard chain-of-custody procedures. Initial screening uses an immunoassay (rapid test) with a cutoff of either 500 ng/mL or 100 ng/mL, depending on the ordering party's requirements. If the screen is positive, a confirmation test using LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) is performed. The confirmation test is highly accurate and specific. Results are typically available within 1 to 3 business days. Some probation offices use rapid (point-of-care) EtG test cups that provide results in minutes, though these are less accurate than laboratory-based testing and may require lab confirmation for positive results.

Tips for People Being Monitored by EtG Testing

If you are on probation, in a drug court program, or in a professional monitoring program that uses EtG testing, follow these guidelines to avoid false positives. Switch to alcohol-free mouthwash (Biotene, Act Alcohol Free, or any brand labeled 'alcohol-free'). Use alcohol-free hand sanitizer (look for benzalkonium chloride-based products instead of ethanol-based ones). Avoid NyQuil and other alcohol-containing medications — ask your pharmacist for alcohol-free alternatives. Do not drink kombucha, kefir, or other fermented beverages. Be cautious with non-alcoholic beer and wine, which may contain small amounts of alcohol. Avoid foods cooked with wine or beer. Read ingredient labels for 'ethanol' or 'ethyl alcohol' in personal care products, cleaning products, and medications. If you are unsure about a product, ask your probation officer or treatment provider before using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EtG test?: An EtG (ethyl glucuronide) test is a urine test that detects a metabolite of alcohol called ethyl glucuronide. It can detect alcohol consumption for up to 80 hours (about 3.5 days) after drinking — far longer than a breathalyzer (12 to 24 hours) or blood alcohol test (about 12 hours). It is primarily used by probation offices, drug courts, and professional monitoring programs to verify abstinence from alcohol.
How long does alcohol stay in your urine for an EtG test?: Detection time depends on how much you drank. Light drinking (1 drink): 12 to 24 hours. Moderate drinking (2 to 4 drinks): 24 to 48 hours. Heavy drinking (5+ drinks): 48 to 80+ hours. These ranges are based on the standard 500 ng/mL cutoff. At the stricter 100 ng/mL cutoff, detection windows are longer. Individual factors like body weight, metabolism, liver function, and hydration also affect detection time.
Can hand sanitizer cause a positive EtG test?: Yes. Research has shown that ethanol from alcohol-based hand sanitizer is absorbed primarily through inhalation (not through the skin) and can produce EtG levels above the 100 ng/mL cutoff and potentially above the 500 ng/mL cutoff with heavy or prolonged use. If you are being monitored by EtG testing, use alcohol-free hand sanitizer (benzalkonium chloride-based) instead.
Can mouthwash cause a positive EtG test?: Yes. Many mouthwashes (Listerine, Scope, and most generic brands) contain 21 to 27% ethanol. Using these products can cause a positive EtG result, especially at the 100 ng/mL cutoff. Switch to alcohol-free mouthwash (such as Biotene or Act Alcohol Free) if you are being monitored.
Can kombucha cause a positive EtG test?: Yes. Kombucha contains small amounts of alcohol (typically 0.5 to 3%) from the fermentation process. Drinking kombucha can produce enough EtG in your urine to trigger a positive result, especially at the 100 ng/mL cutoff. Avoid kombucha and other fermented beverages if you are subject to EtG testing.
What is the standard EtG cutoff level for probation?: Most probation offices and drug courts use a 500 ng/mL cutoff, which reduces false positives from incidental exposure. Some stricter programs (professional monitoring for nurses, lawyers, or pilots) may use a 100 ng/mL cutoff. The specific cutoff depends on your jurisdiction and the terms of your supervision. At 500 ng/mL, a positive result generally indicates alcohol consumption within the past 48 hours.
What happens if I fail an EtG test on probation?: Failing an EtG test while on probation is typically a violation of your conditions of supervision. Consequences vary by jurisdiction and may include a warning from your probation officer, increased testing frequency, mandatory treatment or counseling, community service, modification of probation terms, or revocation of probation leading to incarceration. If you believe the result is a false positive, inform your attorney and probation officer immediately and request EtS confirmation testing.
Is an EtG test more accurate than a breathalyzer?: An EtG test has a much longer detection window (up to 80 hours vs. 12 to 24 hours for a breathalyzer), but it is not necessarily more 'accurate.' A breathalyzer measures current blood alcohol level and indicates current impairment. An EtG test detects past alcohol consumption (even after you are completely sober) but cannot determine how much you drank or whether you were impaired. The two tests serve different purposes: breathalyzers for current impairment, EtG for abstinence monitoring.
Can an EtG test tell how much I drank?: Not precisely. Higher EtG levels generally correlate with heavier drinking, but the exact concentration is affected by many individual factors (body weight, liver function, hydration, time since drinking). Courts and probation officers generally interpret results in ranges: below 500 ng/mL may indicate incidental exposure or very light drinking, 500 to 1,000 ng/mL indicates likely drinking, and above 1,000 ng/mL strongly indicates heavy or recent drinking. However, EtG is best used as a binary indicator (drinking vs. not drinking) rather than a precise measurement of consumption.
How do I dispute a false positive EtG result?: If you believe your EtG result is a false positive, take these steps immediately: (1) inform your probation officer and/or attorney, (2) request confirmation testing with EtS (ethyl sulfate), which is not affected by the same false-positive triggers, (3) document any products you used that contain ethanol (hand sanitizer, mouthwash, medications, foods), (4) request a retest as soon as possible. If the EtG is positive but EtS is negative, this supports a false-positive finding. Courts increasingly recognize the limitations of EtG testing at low cutoffs, especially regarding incidental exposure.

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Take Action — Direct Links

SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service for alcohol and drug abuse
MUSC — Urine Ethylglucuronide Testing Reference Guide
Medical University of South Carolina reference guide on EtG testing, cutoffs, and interpretation
Drug test detection times — full guide
Comprehensive detection window chart for all common substances by test type
12-panel drug test — what it tests for
Learn about the 12-panel test, which may be combined with EtG for alcohol monitoring
Probation rules by state
State-by-state probation rules, including drug and alcohol testing requirements

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not medical advice. Drug testing procedures, cutoff levels, and detection windows vary by laboratory, test manufacturer, and individual factors. Always consult with a qualified medical professional or Medical Review Officer for advice about your specific situation. For substance abuse support, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7).