Can You Detect Ethanol in Urine Drug Tests and What are Other Options?

Workplace testing can help maintain safety and drastically reduce work hazards. These tests can help single out employees that are more likely to endanger themselves and others. Alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of impairments when done irresponsibly. Consuming alcohol can cause vision, judgement, coordination, and memory impairments. Furthermore, these impairments can significantly affect an employee’s ability when they perform tasks. Therefore, employers should always ensure that their employees are fit to work. Nowadays, employers routinely provide tests within the workplace and during work hours. Employers would typically perform alcohol breath tests and urine drug tests during workplace testing. Companies can use devices like the workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers New Zealand, to test for alcohol. Likewise, employers can perform urine tests on their employees to test for drugs. Moreover, it is also worth noting that you can detect ethanol in a urine drug test.

Drug and alcohol tests can effectively check for sobriety in the workplace. Maintaining workplace sobriety can help prevent accidents and injuries. Being able to prevent workplace accidents can have various advantages for any business. Therefore, checking for ethanol in a urine drug test or alcohol breath test can be a reasonable time and money investment for any company. Being able to prevent alcohol use in the workplace can help:

• Avoid workflow disruptions
• Improve workplace productivity
• Decrease absent rates
• Decrease turnover rates
• Avoid legal complications

Ethanol in Urine Drug Tests: Other forms of testing

Can you detect ethanol in a urine drug test, and are there any other options? Yes, ethanol is detectible through urine. However, alcohol can be detected through a variety of tests. Urine tests are not the only options for workplace testing. Aside from urine tests, employers can also use:

• Breath alcohol tests: can detect alcohol usage up to 24 hours
• Blood tests: can detect alcohol and drug usage up to 24 to 48 hours
• Saliva tests: can detect alcohol and drug usage up to 24 hours
• Hair follicle tests: can detect alcohol and drug usage for up to 90 days.

Among these tests, it is worth noting that companies would commonly use alcohol breath tests and urine tests during workplace testing. These tests are favoured because they are reliable and quick to perform. You would only need a breathalyser during a breath test. These devices can collect, store, and process the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) results independently. All an employee must do is provide an adequate breath sample through the device’s mouthpiece. Employers can use devices like the workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers New Zealand, to provide more frequent alcohol tests. On the other hand, you can detect ethanol in a urine drug test through a testing cup. These testing cups would typically change colour based on the substance found in the urine. In most cases, a negative result for alcohol and drugs will not have any colour changes.

Ethanol in Urine Drug Tests Vs Blood Tests

Can you detect ethanol in a urine drug test, and is it accurate? Yes, alcohol can be accurately traced through urine tests. However, a blood test is the most accurate alcohol and drug test. When you consume alcohol, traces of it travel all around your body. In most cases, alcohol can be very prevalent in urine and blood samples. However, employers would prefer performing urine tests rather than blood tests. Urine tests draw a fine line between having reliable results and convenient testing procedures. Urine tests are more common in workplaces because it is easy to collect samples. On the other hand, blood tests tend to be more invasive. Furthermore, blood tests require highly trained sample collectors for sample collection, transportation, and processing. Additionally, this test also requires a certified laboratory for sample processing. These additional requirements make blood tests costly and time-consuming.

Ethanol in Urine Drug Tests: Using Breath Tests Instead

A breath test is the most efficient method for checking for alcohol. Even police officers in roadside screenings use breathalysers to check for a driver’s sobriety. Despite being easy to perform, breath tests are still highly reliable. When testing for alcohol only, a breath test can have many advantages over checking for ethanol in a urine drug test. Firstly, sample collection is easier in breath tests. During a breath test, all you need to do is provide a firm 5-second blow into the breathalyser. Secondly, breathalysers are more detailed. Breath testers can show the exact amount of BAC in the system. Moreover, this can help determine the intoxication level of the employee. Urine tests can only offer “positive” or “negative” results without any other details. Lastly, given the portability of breathalysers, breath tests can be done almost anywhere and in virtually any situation, allowing for more frequent tests.

Why use the Breathalysers from Breathalysers New Zealand

Rather than checking for ethanol in a urine drug test, employers can take advantage of the workplace breathalysers available on Breathalysers New Zealand. These are the best workplace breathalysers available in the country. Breathalysers New Zealand features highly accurate breathalysers that use fuel cell sensors; these are the same sensors you would find in a police officer’s breathalyser. Moreover, these professional-grade sensors are less likely to produce false-positive results. This is because these sensors are only sensitive to ethyl alcohol. This accuracy can drastically help employers when testing employees with diabetes or who are on a low-calorie diet. Additionally, these sensors are highly durable and can perform over 1000 tests before needing recalibration. These breathalysers do not need frequent recalibration to remain accurate.

Aside from accuracy, the workplace breathalysers from Breathalysers New Zealand also have various useful features. These breathalysers have one-button operations, allowing employers to start a breath test with just a push of a button. Once you turn on the power, it only takes 10 – 20 seconds for these breathalysers to warm up. Furthermore, the fuel cell sensors of these devices allow for quick tests. It only takes 10 to 15 seconds for these workplace breathalysers to process breath samples. Without a doubt, when testing for alcohol, breath tests can be the more convenient option. Performing breath tests with a breathalyser can allow for more frequent testing when compared to checking for ethanol in a urine drug test.

Conclusion

Urine tests are helpful because they can test for drugs and alcohol simultaneously. However, when strictly looking for alcohol, breath tests are a more viable option. Breath tests are faster, easier to perform, and require a lot less processing when compared to checking for ethanol in a urine drug test. Undoubtedly, breath tests with a BACtrack workplace breathalyser from Breathalysers New Zealand are the most viable option for workplace alcohol testing. With the innovative alcohol testers available today, employers can quickly provide more frequent and reliable alcohol tests.