EtG test results, explained
EtG is a breakdown product of alcohol that stays in urine for days after drinking — the test used to check for recent alcohol use when a breath or blood test would already be clear.
What’s a normal EtG level?
Typical adult reference range, shown for orientation. Your report’s range may differ by lab, age, and sex — the analyzer uses your report’s own ranges when available.
What high and low EtG mean
A value outside the reference range is a flag, not a diagnosis. Here’s what each direction usually points to — and the most common causes.
A positive (high) EtG means alcohol was consumed within the past several days — the higher the level, the more recent or heavier the drinking.
- Drinking alcohol within roughly the last 2–5 days
- Values of 100–500 ng/mL can occasionally come from heavy incidental exposure — alcohol-based hand sanitizer, mouthwash, some medicines or fermented foods
- Values over 1,000 ng/mL are very unlikely to be incidental and indicate genuine drinking
- Rarely, a false positive from a urinary infection with glucose present (bacteria can form EtG in the sample)
A negative (low) EtG — below the cut-off — means no detectable alcohol use in roughly the past 2–5 days.
- No recent drinking (the expected result in monitoring)
- Drinking that happened longer ago than the detection window
- A very dilute urine sample lowering the concentration
When a EtG result needs attention
EtG is a monitoring test rather than a health test, so the issue is consequences, not symptoms: a positive result in a programme or legal context can usually be challenged only with a confirmatory EtS result and documentation of incidental exposure. If you are drinking heavily and cannot stop, that is the medical issue — alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and help is available.
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EtG (Ethyl Glucuronide) Urine Test — frequently asked questions
- How long does EtG stay in urine?
- Typically 24–48 hours after one or two drinks, about 2–3 days after moderate drinking, and up to 4–5 days (sometimes a little longer) after heavy or binge drinking. Detection time also depends on the cut-off the lab uses and how concentrated the sample is.
- Can hand sanitizer or mouthwash cause a positive EtG?
- Heavy, repeated exposure can produce low positives, usually under 500 ng/mL and almost always under 1,000 ng/mL. That is why most programmes use a 500 ng/mL cut-off and treat results above 1,000 as clear evidence of drinking. Results are often confirmed with ethyl sulfate (EtS), which incidental exposure rarely raises.
- What do the EtG cut-off levels mean?
- 100 ng/mL is a very sensitive screen that can flag incidental exposure; 500 ng/mL is the standard cut-off that balances sensitivity and false positives; 1,000 ng/mL is used where only clear drinking should count. A result just above the cut-off is interpreted more cautiously than one many times higher.
Related lab markers
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) →ALT is a liver enzyme released into the blood when liver cells are stressed or damaged — one of the most sensitive markers of liver health.
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) →AST is an enzyme found in the liver, heart, and muscles; in routine testing it is used mainly to assess liver health alongside ALT.
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein) →CRP is a protein made by the liver that rises with inflammation anywhere in the body — a general marker of inflammatory activity.
- All lab markers →Browse every biomarker guide in one place.
This page provides educational health information and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Interpret any lab value with your clinician, who has your full medical context. For emergencies, contact emergency services.