Alcohol testing is an important tool for maintaining a safe workplace, protecting people and assets, and upholding human-resource standards. If you're considering implementing alcohol testing protocols into your workplace practices, it's common to have some questions about how testing works and the options available. Here’s you should know about this important subject.

A Guide to Alcohol Testing

What can an alcohol test detect?

Alcohol is processed and eliminated from the body relatively fast. Thus, testing instead identifies ethanol glucuronide. This substance is a minor metabolite of alcohol that doesn't break down as quickly and can be detected in urine and saliva.

How long does alcohol stay in your system?

There are many factors that can influence how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol, including age, gender, and weight. In general, a healthy liver processes about one drink an hour.

Still, ethanol glucuronide can remain in the body for up to five days afterward. Alcohol can stay in the hair follicles for up to three months. If you're a nursing mother, alcohol stays in breast milk for two to three hours for every drink consumed.

What happens during alcohol testing?

To test for ethanol glucuronide, you have two options. A urine sample can be analyzed for biomarkers that indicate the presence of the metabolite. The minimum amount needed for a positive test result is 300 nanograms per milliliter of urine. Or, saliva can be taken and tested and will reveal a positive result for blood alcohol content of .02 percent or higher. Both tests are noninvasive and painless.

Can an employee cheat an alcohol test?

Ethanol glucuronide is a biological marker that’s difficult to eliminate from a person's system until it has been thoroughly and completely metabolized. Drinking excessive amounts of water, for instance, may dilute the sample, but it likely won't remove all traces of ethanol glucuronide. If the sample is too diluted to render a definitive result, the employer can request another test to be given at another time.

When you need alcohol testing in the Phoenix, AZ, area, trust the professionals at US Compliance Consortium. They work with businesses of all sizes and provide accurate results that ensure your goals are met. In addition to alcohol and drug testing, they provide DOT physicals and compliance testing, as well as forensic testing. Call (602) 765-2200 or visit them online to request more information.