Accurately Estimate Your ETG Levels and Alcohol Detection Period

You’re gearing up for a test? or you’re preparing for an upcoming test or just want to understand how long alcohol lingers in your system, our tool provides estimates. Empower yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your health and safety

What You Need To Know

So, you’ve got an alcohol urine (EtG) test coming up and you want to know if you’ll pass. First off, DO NOT PANIC! There are a lot of reasons why folks are given Alcohol EtG tests. People get tested all the time. But that doesn’t matter. The one thing that you want to know, right now, is if you will pass or not. The only way to pass an Alcohol EtG test with 100% certainty is – DO NOT DRINK.

But you did, and I’m not a preacher, or the sober police. So let’s just see what the situation is and go from there. This site has two sections; a basic calculator of Alcohol EtG levels based on how much you had to drink, and a more advanced calculator which allows you to plan ahead and alter the variables instead of taking the defaults (which are set at very conservative levels). Just remember, everyone is different and your mileage may vary.

After a few free simple calculations, I’m going to ask for a very, very small token of appreciation for my time and effort. Think of it as buying a piece of comfort. Alcohol EtG tests, and not knowing how things are going to turn out, can cause massive amounts of stress, anxiety, fear, shame, depression, in short – pure agony. Life is hard enough so it’s better to know now.

ETG: The Test

Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of ethanol (alcohol) that can be detected in urine and is often used as a biomarker to test for recent alcohol consumption. The amount of EtG found in urine after consuming one standard drink can vary widely depending on several factors, including individual metabolism, hydration levels, the sensitivity of the testing method, and the time elapsed since consumption.

Approximate Range For ETG After One Standard Drink

EtG Production: When alcohol is consumed, it is metabolized primarily by liver. A small fraction (about 0.02-0.04%) is converted to EtG.
EtG Detection: EtG can be detected in urine within hours of consumption and may remain detectable for up to 48 hours or longer after a single drink, depending on the amount consumed and individual metabolism. Some tests claim an 80 hour detection window.
The literature states that after consuming one standard drink, EtG levels in urine can range from about 1,000 to 5,000 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), although this is a general approximation. Further research on heavy drinkers or those who drink frequently are capable of producing peak EtG values in the hundreds of thousands range. To complicate things, individuals produce more or less EtG due to differences in metabolism and other physiological factors with hydration being a key factor. This will become important later.
To be conservative, we will use a default value of 40,000 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of EtG – per drink. These numbers get very large, very fast, and they peak AFTER you stop drinking. The advanced calculator allows you to play with this number as well as the peak time for more accurate predictions.

How Much Did You Have To Drink

The definition of a Standard Drink In the United States contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to:
- 12 ounces of beer (5% ABV)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% ABV)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% ABV)
How many drinks are in:
- A “fifth” refers to a bottle containing 750 milliliters of rum, vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey – that’s 17 standard drinks
- 375 milliliters, often referred to as a “pint”, contains 8.5 standard drinks
- A “handle” of hard liquor is 1.75 liters, which is equivalent to 1,750 milliliters – or 40 standard drinks.
- A bottle of wine can vary widely between red and white and alcohol by volume (ABV) – but it is safe to use the average number of 6 standard drinks.
When in doubt, always overestimate how many drinks you’ve had. This will give us a wider margin of safety.

The Typical Cutoff Concentration For A Positive EtG Test

100 ng/mL: This is often used as a low cutoff that provides high sensitivity but may detect incidental alcohol exposure.
200-250 ng/mL: This range offers a balance between sensitivity and specificity, reducing false positives from incidental exposure.
500 ng/mL: This is a widely used cutoff, especially for immunoassay screening tests, as it provides good specificity while still detecting recent alcohol use.
The basic calculator shows you what your EtG level will be at test time. The advanced version allows you to select your test sensitivity and how many hours it will take to get to pass that test.

EtG Level Calculators

Welcome to the ETG Level Calculator! This tool helps estimate your Ethyl Glucuronide (ETG) levels based on your alcohol consumption. Follow these steps for accurate results:

Total Number of Standard Drinks*

Time (in hours) since last drink*

Use Advance Calculator

I'm asking for a very small token of appreciation for my time and effort.

Results

Additional Preparation For The EtG Test

Whenever you have an EtG test and less that 72 hours have passed, it is ALWAYS a good idea to flush. The rules are pretty simple.

Drink as much water and gatorade as you can up until 2 to 3 hours before the test.
Alternate 1 liter of water with 1 liter of gatorade.
A normal, healthy person usually pees every 6 to 8 times a day. That’s about every 3 to 4 hours. If you increase your fluid intake, you are putting your body in a state of Diuresis.
Once you start peeing every 1.5 to 2 hours, you are in Diuresis.This will additionally dilute the concentration of EtG in the urine.
If you experience cramping or headaches, throttle back with the fluid intake. The calculations are an excellent guide. Flushing is just a good idea if you’re cutting things a little too close for comfort.
Eat a protein rich meal about 3 hours before your test.
Take multivitamins about 2 hours before your test. This includes C, B, D, and Magnesium.

This gives your body enough time to reach normal electrolytes and chemical levels in the urine sample before the test.

Safety Warning About Diuresis

Diuresis is the increased production of urine by the kidneys. It can be induced by consuming a significant amount of water, which leads to the body needing to excrete the excess fluid. The amount of water required to induce diuresis can vary based on several factors, including a person’s hydration status, kidney function, body size, and the presence of any underlying medical conditions.

General Guidelines for Inducing Diuresis

Normal Hydration State: For a person in a normal state of hydration, consuming around 500 to 1,000 milliliters (0.5 to 1 liter) of water in a relatively short period (about 30 minutes to an hour) is often sufficient to induce diuresis. This is because the kidneys work to balance the body’s fluid levels, and an influx of water leads to increased urine output to maintain this balance.
Factors Influencing Water Needs:
- Body Size: Larger individuals may need more water to achieve the same effect as smaller individuals.
- Baseline Hydration: Someone who is already well-hydrated may reach the diuresis threshold more quickly than someone who is dehydrated.
- Kidney Function: Those with healthy kidney function will more efficiently produce urine in response to increased fluid intake.
Safety Considerations:
- Avoid Excessive Water Intake: Drinking too much water too quickly can lead to water intoxication or hyponatremia, a dangerous condition where the balance of electrolytes in your body is disrupted by a large influx of water. This can cause symptoms ranging from mild (nausea, headache) to severe (brain swelling, seizures, coma).

Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Please be advised that the results achieved in any given case depend upon the exact facts and circumstances of that case. The Kugel Law Firm cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter.