EtG alcohol test window explainer
In short
An EtG urine test can show drinking from days ago, not just hours. How far back it looks depends a lot on the cutoff the lab uses. This chart shows what researchers found, so you can understand an EtG result without guessing.
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How to use this tool
- Pick how far back you want to look, from 24 to 120 hours.
- Pick a lab cutoff to compare, such as the common 500 ng/mL.
- Read the chart: each bar is the cutoff the study found worked best for that window, and the dashed line is the cutoff you chose.
- Read the explanation under the chart and the sources it links to.
This tool does not ask how much you drank and does not predict a result. Nothing is saved or sent.
EtG cutoff chart
EtG cutoff explainer
Based on Lowe and colleagues (2015), a study of adults in addiction treatment. It shows research findings, not a prediction for you. Nothing is saved or sent.
The study numbers
| Drinking within the past | Best cutoff found (ng/mL) |
|---|---|
| 24 hours | 420 |
| 48 hours | 150 |
| 72 hours | 100 |
| 96 hours | 86 |
| 120 hours | 80 |
Source: Lowe and colleagues, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2015, a study of adults in addiction treatment who also reported their drinking. The authors found the 500 ng/mL commercial cutoff missed more drinking and suggested 200 ng/mL when looking back more than 24 hours.
What EtG is
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a breakdown product of alcohol that shows up in urine. Mayo Clinic Laboratories notes EtG can be found for up to about 5 days at a 500 ng/mL cutoff (Mayo Clinic Laboratories). A breathalyzer answers a different question: is there alcohol in the body right now?
Why the cutoff is a trade off
A lower cutoff catches drinking from further back. It is also more likely to pick up small amounts from everyday products. Mayo Clinic Laboratories notes that hand sanitizer and mouthwash can produce detectable EtG. That is why we ask about the products you use, and why a federal advisory on alcohol biomarkers says they work best alongside an interview and screening, not alone (SAMHSA advisory, summarized by RTI).
How EtG fits into monitoring
In an ongoing monitoring program, EtG lets random testing cover the days between visits, while a breath test covers the moment. A monitoring coordinator who knows you reviews results with you, and positive screens can be sent to a partner laboratory for confirmation. Learn more about the EtG alcohol test or read how long EtG detects alcohol.
If drinking has become a danger, call 911 in an emergency, or call or text 988 for a mental health or suicide crisis.
Common questions
Do lower cutoffs pick up hand sanitizer or mouthwash?
It can. Mayo Clinic Laboratories notes that incidental exposure from products like hand sanitizer and mouthwash can produce detectable EtG. Tell us about any products you use before you test.
Why do labs use different EtG cutoffs?
It is a balance. Lower cutoffs catch drinking from further back but are more sensitive to small exposures from everyday products. Higher cutoffs, like 500 ng/mL, miss more past drinking, according to a 2015 study.
Can this chart tell me whether I will pass an EtG test?
No. It shows findings from one research group. How much someone drank, when, hydration, body size, kidney function and lab method all change results, so it cannot predict anyone's test.
Is an EtG test the same as a breathalyzer?
No. A breathalyzer shows alcohol in the body at the time of the test. An EtG urine test looks back over recent days. A monitoring plan can use both.
Should I stop using mouthwash while I am being tested?
Check the label. If a product lists alcohol, ask your monitoring coordinator whether to switch to an alcohol free version while you are testing, and list it on your disclosure checklist either way.
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