Stability of urine ethyl glucuronide
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Authors
Prince, Teri R.
Issue Date
2008
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Forensic sciences
Alternative Title
Abstract
The detection of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in urine samples is an important tool for monitoring the compliance of offenders on probation. As a non-volatile, water-soluble, direct metabolite of ethanol, it has become one of the fastest emerging biomarkers for proof of alcohol consumption. This investigation was conducted to: insure that urine samples positive for EtG remained stabile at room temperature for up to 10 days; to discover whether or not the type of alcohol consumed affects EtG stability; and finally, if EtG is spontaneously produced in negative samples that are stored at room temperature for 10 days. Subjects included 6 volunteers asked to consume mixed drinks, 6 volunteers asked to consume wine, 6 volunteers asked to consume beer, and 6 volunteers asked to abstain from alcohol consumption for 7 days. The last 6 volunteers were broken into 2 groups. One group of 3 was asked to avoid any products containing ethyl alcohol, such as vanilla, certain mouthwashes, soaps, and deodorants. The other 3 were allowed to continue use of these products. All 24 volunteers provided 80mLs of midstream urine to be monitored, through duplicate quantitative testing by GCMS, for a 10 day period while being stored at room temperature.