[RN4Recovery]

To any who are reading this thread, I looked at the aforementioned website this afternoon and the advisory is THERE! I have printed it and I intend to make enough copies for my nurse support group. Let's ge the word out. This testing is unacceptable. Again the website is: www.samhsa.gov

[BrendaRN]

Does anyone know if all the boards use ETG testing? I'm specifically wondering about Oregon. I've had 2 random UA's in the last week, and even though I haven't had a drink, I'm worried because of all the posts I've been reading.

[Tina Schroeder]

Hello!

Happy Thanksgiving to All! I am Tina, many of you know my crazy story if you've read the Wall Street Journal. I fortunately do not know the pain of addiction. I do know the pain of being wrongfully called a liar. I have had negative EtG's for nearly a year now. In terrible fear though, due to subjected to 3 more years of testing. Though through trial and error and all the valuable "what not to do" information from forums, support groups and literature, I have been able to produce negatives. The holidays, though joyous, are rough not being able to try all the goodies that are offered due to unintentional ingestion of alcohol. I still am practicing nursing, though in diversion. My first test was 930. This was prior to the awareness of what to avoid. The very limited initial information left me with the understanding that I just couldn't drink alchohol or use Niquil or benadryl. After the 930, I realized that I had to really start reading labels and being totally aware of what was coming into my body. I avoid nearly everything. I have found that I can use hairspray and perfume in the morning as long as I don't have to test that day. Yea, russian roulette with the hygiene and beauty products. I recieved a verbal warning for a 147ng/ml and 3 more years for a 310 one month after the verbal warning. Still not sure what I did wrong. I've met with some amazing people through this venture, Kevin Helliker is on our side from the WSJ. What a great guy! Dr. Skipper was in MD at the National Advisory Council meeting and he is really trying to help make this right. The members of the council were very supportive and angry about this test and it's reliability, but mostly concerned about the adverse effects it can have on a recovering addict. Others may say they are here to help, but the Advisory Council really is in it for RECOVERY. We call our nurse assistance program KNAP - The Kansas Nurse Assassination Program. Nothing is about helping, it's all about money and power. They could care less about any new data, or scientific research on the EtG. Positive - YOU DRANK. What idiots, I wish they would submit a UA.

Anyway that's my intro! If I have new information, I will be sharing. Thank you all for the same. I'm sure that truth and justice will prevail. The waiting is rough but I truly believe in time we will be believed. Hang in There! Best of wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Tina

[SwC]

I am unable to get this thread to advance beyond page one in order to read other responses?

[hppygr8ful]

go to the bottom of the page and you will see a prompt click on the the next page and it will take you there

[SwC]

This is crazy. I have to post in order to see the last page. Jeez can anyone help correct this? Oh I did use the prompt at the bottom and the top..... I am very comp savy and this is a new one on me. I get the first page on this thread then that's it unless I post LOL.

[HCDC]

I am not a nurse, but I do know something about etg testing. Thought I would share with you all.

Etg tests are sensitive to alcohol metabolites as you have mentioned. It would be interesting to know how many ng's you all tested for. Anything under 500 ng's could/should be considered incidental exposure. Anything OVER 500 is definite alcohol consumption.

That's not to say that anything under 500 is not alcohol consumption, just that it is too low to be positive that alcohol was consumed. Low levels could also indicate incidental abuse (ex: drinking high doses of cough syrup, vanilla extract, mouthwash, etc).

[gtcook242]

I got a positive EtG test a few weeks ago - and I have not had a drink in 20 months. My test was 186 ng/ml.

I think it was food that got me - I had some cookies that had lemon extract in them. I ate almost the whole batch - which is 1 tsp lemon extract which is 35% alcohol... I will never do that again. If not that - then I am baffled.

[CABAYRN]

Dear gtcook,

I am very sorry to hear about your etg test. I don't know what it will take for the BRN to abandon this flawed test. I too, am in CA diversion program and several people in my nurse support group (one of whom was taking Anabuse) have had multiple elevated etg levels.
One continuing ed workshop I attended presented info that inhaling the fumes from alcohol based hand sanitizer produces high etg levels. If you are using Purell you may want to stop.
Keep the faith and keep doing what you know is right! You are a person, not a test result!

[nancyt]

Hey I ate at Panda Express and have eaten there many times. Now I'm hearing it could produce a positive etg. They use 1 tablespoon of 50% etoh in a wine. l tablespoon per bin of food. They cook at high temp. I believe the etoh gets cooked out. what you think?