ETG Test Strips & Dip Cards for Alcohol Screening

Quick answer: An etg test is a urine screen that detects ethyl glucuronide, a metabolite the body makes after alcohol exposure. It can show drinking from roughly one to three days earlier. This collection offers single-analyte strips and dip cards plus multi-drug dip cards that include ETG. Options include FDA-cleared, CLIA-waived and forensic-use-only products. Results appear in about five minutes.

What an ETG test detects

ETG is a direct metabolite of ethanol, formed in the liver. An etg urine test looks for that metabolite rather than alcohol itself, so it can pick up drinking after breath or blood alcohol has cleared. It was designed to flag any recent drinking, not to measure how much someone drank or whether they were impaired. Many multi-panel cards in this collection pair ETG with common drugs and fentanyl (FEN). The cutoffs below are typical, and configurations vary by product, so check each product's insert.

Analyte / drug class	Abbreviation	Typical screening cutoff (ng/mL)
Ethyl glucuronide (alcohol metabolite)	ETG	500 (some products use 300 or 1,000)
Amphetamine	AMP	1,000
Methamphetamine	MET	500 or 1,000
Cocaine (benzoylecgonine)	COC	300
Marijuana (THC metabolite)	THC	50
Opiates (morphine)	OPI	2,000 (some use 300)
Phencyclidine	PCP	25
Benzodiazepines	BZO	300
Fentanyl	FEN	Commonly 1 to 20 (varies)

Formats compared

ETG screening here is urine-based. Dip cards and test strips are the main formats, and the table also shows how they compare with cups and oral fluid for context.

Format	Specimen	Result time	Observed collection	Adulteration checks	Best for
Dip card	Urine	About 5 minutes	Possible, per your policy	Not built in on most cards; some configurations differ	Multi-panel screens that include ETG and FEN
Test strip	Urine	About 5 minutes	Possible, per your policy	Usually none	Low-cost, high-volume alcohol-only screening
Urine cup	Urine	About 5 minutes	Possible; temperature strip common	Often available as added strips	Contained collection and easy handling
Oral fluid	Saliva	Several minutes	Easy to observe	Not applicable	Recent use; ETG is not typically tested this way

Who buys and why

• Treatment centers and clinics: verify abstinence between visits and support recovery plans with quick, on-site results.
• Courts and probation: monitor alcohol-abstinence conditions, often using forensic-use-only strips and cards with lab confirmation.
• Employers and staffing firms: screen under written policies for non-DOT roles, including reasonable-suspicion and return-to-duty programs.
• Collection sites and labs: stock multiple formats for client programs and keep inventory ready for walk-ins.
• Sober living and family-court programs: use regular screening where abstinence is required.

Compliance

Requirements depend on the product and how you use it. This is general information, not legal advice.

• FDA 510(k) clearance: applies to certain drug-panel devices. Check each product page and insert for its status.
• CLIA-waived: products with this status may be used in qualifying waived settings. Many ETG-specific devices are not cleared for clinical use.
• Forensic use only: these products are for screening in non-clinical programs and are not for diagnosis.
• Confirmation: a screen is presumptive. Send non-negative results for GC-MS or LC-MS confirmation when the result will support a legal, employment or treatment decision.
• DOT: federal DOT testing does not use rapid urine dip cards for regulated tests, and alcohol testing is done by breath. DOT-regulated testing needs a certified process and lab. Confirm requirements with your program administrator.

How to read results

1. Check the expiration date and keep the device at room temperature before opening it.
2. Collect a fresh urine sample and dip the card or strip to the marked line for the time stated in the insert.
3. Lay the device flat and read it at the time the insert specifies, typically around five minutes. Don't read it much later.
4. Look for the control line (C). It must appear for the test to be valid.
5. Read each test line. For these competitive-format tests, a line in the test region means negative, and no line means a presumptive positive.
6. Treat a very faint line as a line, which means negative under most inserts. Follow the insert for borderline cases, and send disputed results for confirmation.

If there is no control line, the result is invalid. Discard the device and retest with a new one.

Ordering in bulk from ASC

American Screening Corp has supplied wholesale drug and alcohol testing products since 2004 from Shreveport, Louisiana. Products are sold by the box and in bulk case quantities, and in-stock orders ship the same day. Ask for a volume quote if you buy on a recurring schedule, and ask about private label options for larger programs. Our team can help match a product to your program's cutoffs, compliance status and workflow.

ETG Test FAQ

What is an ETG test?

An etg alcohol test checks urine for ethyl glucuronide, a byproduct the body makes when it processes alcohol. Because ETG stays in urine longer than alcohol does in breath or blood, the test can show drinking that happened a day or more earlier. It shows exposure, not impairment.

How long does ETG stay detectable?

ETG is generally detectable for about one to three days after drinking. Longer windows are possible after heavy use. Detection time depends on the amount consumed, individual metabolism, hydration, kidney function and the test's cutoff, so treat these figures as general ranges.

Does an ETG test detect other drugs?

A single-analyte ETG strip detects only the alcohol metabolite. Multi-panel dip cards in this collection combine ETG with other drug classes, and many include fentanyl. Check each product page for the exact panel and cutoffs before you order.

How much does an ETG test cost?

Cost depends on format, panel size and quantity. Strips usually cost less than multi-drug cards, and larger case quantities lower the per-test cost. Contact ASC for a volume quote based on your program's monthly usage.

Where can I find an ETG test near me?

If you searched for an etg test near me, you can buy on-site tests online from ASC and use them at your own facility. We ship same day from Louisiana and sell to organizations running screening programs. Individuals seeking lab collection should use a local collection site.

How accurate is an ETG urine test?

Rapid ETG screens are presumptive and highly sensitive to recent alcohol exposure. Incidental exposure from some hygiene products or foods can occasionally cause low-level positives, which is why cutoffs matter. Send non-negative results for lab confirmation before taking any action.