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Will Phosphatidylethanol Test Show Positive Results After Consuming 65 Grams Of Alcohol?

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Posted on Wed, 17 Jun 2015
Question: Will 5 drinks (60-65 grams of alcohol) result in a positive peth test? Consumed in 1 1/2 hours. 60 y/o male
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
not exactly sure on the test.

Detailed Answer:
First, for driving under the influenced YES, not even close. Very Very yes.
Then, there are other tests that are used to monitor drinking.
There are liver abnormality tests. They are likely to be positive in this case.
There are alcohol breakdown tests. they will also be positive. The question is how long after the consumption and what sort of testing. If it is under 2 hours a lot of alcohol then all the tests are positive. WIthout any more drinking, they all eventually come back to normal. The DUI one gets back to normal fastest .. about the time there is not very much driving impairment (5 to 10 hours. varies).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (10 minutes later)
My question is, will the phophatidyl ethanol test be positive (PETH test) for the next week?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Almost certainly yes

Detailed Answer:
Depends a bit on the pattern of drinking. If this one episode was the only alcohol intake for the entire year... then it would most likely be positive a week later. The amount of it declines by 50% every 3 to 5 days, so the level on day 7 might be 15-20% of the peak amount. This is likely still above the minimal amount detectable.
Most people in this situation drink more than once a year. The amount of PEth hasn't dropped to zero from the last drinking episode when more alcohol is drunk. For this reason, the PEth level increases and prior PEth from prior drinking adds up. In this context, then even 5 half lives (25 days) still might not be enough to test negative.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
So, even if that is the only alcohol, it is likley enough to be postive a week later. ANY other alcohol at all recently, and this is even much more likely than that to have a positive test.
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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Will Phosphatidylethanol Test Show Positive Results After Consuming 65 Grams Of Alcohol?

Brief Answer: not exactly sure on the test. Detailed Answer: First, for driving under the influenced YES, not even close. Very Very yes. Then, there are other tests that are used to monitor drinking. There are liver abnormality tests. They are likely to be positive in this case. There are alcohol breakdown tests. they will also be positive. The question is how long after the consumption and what sort of testing. If it is under 2 hours a lot of alcohol then all the tests are positive. WIthout any more drinking, they all eventually come back to normal. The DUI one gets back to normal fastest .. about the time there is not very much driving impairment (5 to 10 hours. varies).