products that cause positive etg

Hi I am a nurse in the CA diversion program and have recently had 2 positives within 10 days of each other. 730 and 450 they set back my sobriety date and took away the trip and cruise to spain 1 week before depature. My husband is in charge of a group of 60 people, so he has to go without me. It also happens to be on our 3rd wedding anniversary.
What is killing me is I can't figure waht caused my positive.
I eat the same things I have been eating since the beggining.
They think it could be cleaning products I used.
I don't eat out, I don't used any products with sd alcohol.
I have read all of the web sites regarding etg
I have even written to Dr skipper and I still haven't got a clue
Julie

jhartman1 wrote:Hi I am a nurse in the CA diversion program and have recently had 2 positives within 10 days of each other. 730 and 450 they set back my sobriety date and took away the trip and cruise to spain 1 week before depature. My husband is in charge of a group of 60 people, so he has to go without me. It also happens to be on our 3rd wedding anniversary.
What is killing me is I can't figure waht caused my positive.
I eat the same things I have been eating since the beggining.
They think it could be cleaning products I used.
I don't eat out, I don't used any products with sd alcohol.
I have read all of the web sites regarding etg
I have even written to Dr skipper and I still haven't got a clue
Julie

Restuarants to avoid

Panda Inn
Panda Express
Sushi of all kinds
Pollo Loco chicken
Starbucks coffee (or any specially coffee house)
Carino's Italian food
Sauces and gravies in high end restaurants.
Salsa's in many mexican restuarants contain trace amounts of alcohol.
Baked goods containing extracts
Any product that goes through a fermentation process - Malt vinegar, wine vinegar, sourdough bread,
Hair and beauty products that contain alcohol of any kind
Tanning lotions and sprays
first aid sprays especially arisoles
Hair spray.
Airisole air fresheners
Cleaning products - Lysole, Plug-ins, antibacterial soaps and waterless hand cleaners
Very ripe fruit especially stone fruits like apricots, plums and peaches also grapes, cherries and pineapples.
High end candies like See's, Godiva etc...
Anything that's labled as Quick drying or quick set as they often contain alcohol which speeds the drying process.

This is just a partial list that goes on and on and on..............

The board of Nursing - not Maximus- is aware of this and is investigating the matter. Also addicts especially alcoholics often have a higher affinity for alcohol so the liver hypersecretes ETG in this group.

I wish I could be more help - I am following the boards actions closely as I have friends on the inside - both at Maximus and the Board of Nursing - I will post any new developments as they occur.

Peace and Namaste

hppygr8ful

I was told by dr skipper that ceteryl alcohol in hair conditioner is fine. But I think it might be related to my dish soap I changed it about a month ago Ajax antibacterial soap it contains alcohol sd and I use it all day long.
Thanks for your input . How far are you in diversion now. I started in june 1 but was set back recently due to positive etg. I am so worried that I am going to be almost done with diversion and I will get another positive etg.:( I took my husband to the airport last night. He is going on a trip to spain and a cruise, He is in charge of 6o people. This is the trip they ok'd for me then took it all away. Our 3rd wedding anniversary is on 9/12. I can't believe that I am clean for over 5 months and I am being punished for living a clean life.
I wish maximus would have a detailed items to avoid for positive etg. Because it just says to avoid cooking wines.
Just needed to vent
Julie

jhartman1 wrote:I was told by dr skipper that ceteryl alcohol in hair conditioner is fine. But I think it might be related to my dish soap I changed it about a month ago Ajax antibacterial soap it contains alcohol sd and I use it all day long.
Thanks for your input . How far are you in diversion now. I started in june 1 but was set back recently due to positive etg. I am so worried that I am going to be almost done with diversion and I will get another positive etg.:( I took my husband to the airport last night. He is going on a trip to spain and a cruise, He is in charge of 6o people. This is the trip they ok'd for me then took it all away. Our 3rd wedding anniversary is on 9/12. I can't believe that I am clean for over 5 months and I am being punished for living a clean life.
I wish maximus would have a detailed items to avoid for positive etg. Because it just says to avoid cooking wines.
Just needed to vent
Julie

I have been in diversion 24 months and will celebrate "God willing" my second sobriety birthday on September 28. I will be sending for a transition packet with the hope of having it completed and ready to submit by my next DEC in January 07. Like you I worry that I'll be almost there and have something (+Etg, low Creatinin, etc....) That will derail the whole process - but I already have a plan should that occur. The hospital where I work is prepared to stand by me as long as I haven't had a true relapse and even if I do they will pay for 1/2 of any treatment I may require to get back on track. Then I will just drop out of diversion and go the probation route wich is another 3 years of monitoring but not all the other hassels of diversion.

Peace and Namaste

Hppygr8ful

One more question. How far along where you when you got a positive etg.
Did you have to have 24 straight months of clean urine to apply for transition?
When did they let you go to work initially?
Just wondering
Julie

jhartman1 wrote:One more question. How far along where you when you got a positive etg.
Did you have to have 24 straight months of clean urine to apply for transition?
When did they let you go to work initially?
Just wondering
Julie

Well I just looked up the ingredients on fabreeze and found alcohol to be the 2nd ingredient. So It has a lot of alcohol in it. I would be very careful with this product as breathing the fumes while it is drying can possibly cause a +Etg. I don't remember when I got my +Etg but it seems it was around Easter last year '05. The last I heard you have to have 24 straight months of clean urine to complete diversion which is what the contract says. A friend of mine was told he could go into transition even with a recent +ETG but he would have to be monitored for an additional period. They can't keep you in Diversion forever! I look at it this way, no matter what Maximus Does it won't change the fact of my recovery - I will still continue to work with my sponsor, still go to meetings for the rest of my life. I know that whatever I am faced with today my higher power is there to provide for any emergency.
As long as I remember this - Everything else just takes care of itself. I live a better, richer, happier and more satisfied life than I ever did. But it took me about a year to get that mind-set together.

As for going back to work _ I believe I went back at about 8 months. I know my disability was almost ready to run out when it happened. I did not have permission to work but I went into a local hospital and asked for an application and was offered a job - then I called Maximus and said I had a job offer they asked for a job desciption and two weeks later I was working!


Peace and Namaste

Hppygr8ful

You would be amazed at the things that can cause a positive ethanol. I'm in a monitoring program in Michigan and I had two positive ethanols a year ago. I had to do everything I could to prove my innocence which is difficult when you are known to be a liar. I did my own research and found out that it was my birth control ring (Nuva ring) that caused the positive result. It sounds like the craziest thing but research every new thing you have done or used in the past few weeks, even if it seems ridiculous. Luckily with my research I was sent back to work and had a negative test after the ring was removed. It sounds like your tests are very sensitive and test for different ethanol metabolites which cause a lot of false positive results. They got rid of our sensitive ethanol tesing a few months ago due to all of the false positives. I wish you the best of luck!! Stephanie:p

Stephanie, what was the "sensitive test" that causd so many false +'s that they got rid of? It wasn't etg? And who finally made that decision? Maybe I should move to Michigan, I do have family there...

JH; I think I replied to you in the yahoo group, I didn't realize they took away your trip with your hubby and that it was your 3rd anniversary, I am so sorry. While I said that the CA diversion program may be more leniant than some, "Max*mus," which I have been dealing with for 3 years, is the biggest bunch of bumbling, incompetent idiots that I have ever seen, and I'm not trying to be defiant or mean, they just are. Don't EVER expect them to get or do ANYTHING right or remember anything about your case, and MAKE SURE to document and keep photocopies of EVERYTHING you ever send them, conversations you have, etc. There was one case manager there that told me to do that on our first interview, which has saved my life on numerous occassions, as they loose things OVER and OVER... I heard through the grapevine that she has come back after 3 years (I had her originally when I was new and it was a different company)and she is fantastic, maybe you have her, though it does't sound like it. (I won't say names since I just slandered the company on a public website). But regardless of their incompetence, many of us who were run RAGGED by them many times, have made it close to the end, and hopefully we'll finish soon, so PLEASE don't give up...

The "sensitive" tests they had us taking tested for ethanol metabolites which can show positive results up to 5-7 days after you drink. This test for us was called option number two. Option one (which is my current test) tests just for the ethanol, not the metabolites, which show postive results I think only up to 12 hours after you drink. They had all of us testing under option 2 for about 6 months before they switched us back to option 1. My monitoring specialist stated it was changed due to all of the false positives. I think they had us test under option 2 because a lot of people were drinking and then testing the next day with a negative result with the less sensitive testing because ethanol clears out of your system quickly. Then they found that they were having a lot of problems with the more sensitive tests. Good Luck!

MattiecatRN wrote:The "sensitive" tests they had us taking tested for ethanol metabolites which can show positive results up to 5-7 days after you drink. This test for us was called option number two. Option one (which is my current test) tests just for the ethanol, not the metabolites, which show postive results I think only up to 12 hours after you drink. They had all of us testing under option 2 for about 6 months before they switched us back to option 1. My monitoring specialist stated it was changed due to all of the false positives. I think they had us test under option 2 because a lot of people were drinking and then testing the next day with a negative result with the less sensitive testing because ethanol clears out of your system quickly. Then they found that they were having a lot of problems with the more sensitive tests. Good Luck!

Do you have any documentation that Michigan has changed it's testing policy? I am building a file to present to my attorney. It would be great if we could present evidence that an actual Board of Nursing had stopped using the test!

Thanks

Peace and Namaste

Hppygr8ful

I need help from everyone. I am a nurse in recovery on probation in CA. I was on prop 36 probation asnd completed that (1-1/2 years). I have been on BRN probation with no positive tests for 1-1/2 years. I was notified that I had 2 tests positive for alcohol 1 week apart on July 25 and Aug 1. I paid $50 to speak to their medical review Dr. and she found that there was nothing that I had come in contact with that would explain the false positives. I am a diabetic but was told that that wouldn't have anything to do with the EtG test. I now have to provide all the information I can to convince them that I did not drink. I also need to provide letters from people who know my character and my recovery. I have to do all this legwork to prove that I did NOT drink! I am livid. My license and job are in jeopardy because CompassVision chooses to use this test that is infamous for resulting in false positives! Does anyone know where there is any documentation available regarding this test that I might send them? I'd appreciate any assistance anyone can give me. Thanks so much,.

I posted a list of products 13 pages here of common household products that contain alcohol. Also it's not Comapass Vision that insists on using this test it is the Board of nursing that orders what tests they want. There have been a lot of new developments on the etg scene - things are getting ready to change.

I have just discovered this site and am amazed at what I am reading. I thought I was the only victim and then discovered 3-4 people in my Nursing Support Group had also had false positives. Now I find that it is a real problem virtually everywhere that the test is being used! My probation monitor is asking me to get letters from those knowing my recovery and my character to support my claim that I did not touch any alcohol!!!! I have made copies of the SAMSHA Advisory from last month and can't believe they can use this test. Does anyone have any documentation regarding the fact that this test is not FDA approved? I would appreciate hearing from anyone that cares--I feel so alone in this.

Just curious--why doesn't my name show up on the member's list?:confused: Oh-I sent an e-mail to U.S. Healthtests re: their cartoon depiction of a drunk on their homepage "pushing" EtG testing as the "Gold Standard" for alcohol detection I am getting so bold about this--CompassVision is next!!!!

Hello to all. I am new to this site. Started probation in June in CA and thought everything was going fine in my recovery and testing. Then a bomb dropped. I received a call from my probation monitor saying I had 3 positive tests back in Sept. and October!!!!!!!! They were all from etg, 1 level was 520, 1 was 640 and 1 was 720. I was blown out of the water and can't figure out what it was from. Foaming soap at work? Pete's coffee mocha? Toradol injection containing 10% alcohol? perfume or perfumed lotion? I need some help and support. I got kicked out of diversion because I had 3 relapses on pain medication. I haven't used anything and can't afford any positive tests with my history. Any insights?
Thanks, Nurse 2363

Welcome to the group, you need to post this to the yahoo group etg. It is my lifeline to help me get through etg problems. You are not alone. Go to yahoo look on the left side for groups etg. If you want you can e - mail me directly. jhartman32001@yahoo.com
Julie:)

This link is very comprehensive in everday products that may cause positive EtG.
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=26

Hope this helps someone.

Hello. I am a nurse in Pa with a positive Etg and need help. I have linked to all of the sites posted about the testing, I would like to speak with anyone specifically from Pa about the DMU program.

Be xareful what you use in recipes. I normally use a cheap wine to cook with some of my roast recipes. It caused a positive ETG.

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