Alcohol Test
Most people think about a breath test when talking about testing for alcohol. However, alcohol can also be detected with urine and hair tests. It is important to consider the objective of the test when selecting the testing method for alcohol.
Breath test for alcohol
Objective: Determine if the is person currently impaired, or prove current consumption of alcohol during work hours.
When alcohol hits your stomach, it’s absorbed into your blood that is eventually carried to other parts of your body, including your lungs. Alcohol is eventually exhaled through the breath. Ultimately, this test measures how much alcohol is in a person’s breath, therefore indirectly measuring how much alcohol is in a person’s blood, known as their blood alcohol content or blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The test is performed by a trained breath alcohol technician (BAT) using an Evidential Breath Testing device. DOT-regulated employers must use breath alcohol testing for compliance with DOT alcohol testing requirements.
Urine test for alcohol
Objective: Determine if the person consumed alcohol for up to 80 hours after ingestion.
The presence of Ethanol, EtG, in urine is an indicator that ethanol was ingested. EtG is the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts. EtG is a direct metabolite of alcohol. Testing urine for alcohol is very popular for zero-tolerance and abstinence programs. For example, parents wanting to determine if their child consumed alcohol, or court ordered or probationary testing.
Hair test for alcohol
Objective: Determine if the person consumed alcohol within the past 7 to 90 days.
As with urine, hair tests also detect the presence of EtG. Hair tests show consumption over a longer period, but will not show recent activity. They are an indicator of a behavioral issue, not current impairment or recent consumption. Many court-ordered tests require the hair alcohol test to help determine patterned uses of alcohol consumption.