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What Causes False Positive Readings In A PETH Test?

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Posted on Sat, 9 Jul 2016
Question: Ok well I think I have talked to a few different doctors about the peth test and today I found out that it was positive do not understand that seeing I haven't drank in 25 days could there be another explanationI have been also doing cross fit 5 times a week plus a low carb diet going between XXXXXXX and paleo for 3 months with a weight loss of 15 pounds
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Not many false readings

Detailed Answer:
there are not many false readings found with it

it cannot differentiate true readings however so alcohol mixed with the camp.e or fermentation occurring in the sample. other alcohol exposure like cold meds and perhaps aftershave will show up as a very slow level

frankly there is little to add to the first e answers previously given

the test is accurate and is positive up to 21 to 28 days after the last drinking

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (36 hours later)
Well is it possible that I have Candidas in the small intestine that causes you to make alcohol from foods such as pineapples and cottage cheese and does Diet Coke cause your body to have high sugar levels and what level could I have possibly had when I took the test 25 days after drinking.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
that disorder doesn't actually exist.

Detailed Answer:
It is promulgated by very shadey people selling something dubious and of high price.

I did have a patient last week with high sugar in the blood enough to cause alcohol production in his blood enough to be positive on the test. Poor fellow, he didn't go immediately to the hospital no matter how much I yelled at him about it and he died. It is very sad.

Diet coke has neither sugar nor alcohol. The time limit for detection is given as 28 days so at 25 it wouldn't be very positive, but the test would show something. Or if small amounts were taken more recently.

Sometimes alcohol is used in cooking and not cooked enough to remove it. Mouthwash, cold medicines, hand sanitizer,
http://www.YYYYYYYYYn.com/media/SOP/YYYYYYYYYYY/PP-Press/2015/PPPress_HYYYYYYYYYYY_Sept-Oct_2015.pdf
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (2 days later)
I am unable to find this publication with the link you proved it is coming up not found I have also been reading about fermented foods can go from sugar into alcohol and also that the peth test is unreliable, investigational, experimental and not fda approved can you please comment
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
all the points are technically true.

Detailed Answer:
but, it doesn't seem to have false positives except from liver disease.

https://www.YYYYY.com/Events/YYYYYYYYY/Mon22712%20-%20Alcohol%20Abuse%20and%20Markers%20-%20Scott%20Stewart.pdf
note the 100% specificity in two studies.
The problem with it is that the specificity is a poor term. It is basically a yes/no test. And can be positive more than a month. Furthermore, it cannot distinguish when, and how much alcohol. The sugar into alcohol would only be in severe disease states (uncontrolled diabetes).
But alcohol is in many things besides just alcoholic drinks and these other uses would show up on a urine drug test.
http://www.YYYYYYYYYY.com/media/SOP/YYYYYYYYYY/PP-Press/2015/PPPress_YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY_Sept-Oct_2015.pdf as outlined previously.
If clicking doewsn't work, then copying it in the browswer's address area will work.

So, although it's totally accurate:
1) it doesn't say when the alcohol was taken and seems to be possible for it to be more than a month prior to testing and that the alcohol taken does not have to be a large amount (unreliable in that you don't know what it is telling you).
2) It is not FDA approved yet.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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What Causes False Positive Readings In A PETH Test?

Brief Answer: Not many false readings Detailed Answer: there are not many false readings found with it it cannot differentiate true readings however so alcohol mixed with the camp.e or fermentation occurring in the sample. other alcohol exposure like cold meds and perhaps aftershave will show up as a very slow level frankly there is little to add to the first e answers previously given the test is accurate and is positive up to 21 to 28 days after the last drinking