Alcohol Testing

An alcohol test is a blood test that measures the amount of alcohol or ethanol you have in your blood. It is commonly used to determine whether you have been drinking alcohol and the amount you drank.

You may need an alcohol test if you are showing symptoms of intoxication. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, signs and symptoms of intoxication include:

• Poor balance and coordination
• Stumbling and/or falling
• Slurred speech
• Slow and deliberate movement
• Speech that is quick, slow, or fluctuating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Being overly friendly
• Being loud
• Using foul language
• Belligerence
• Argumentative
• Red, watery eyes
• Sweating
• Droopy eyelids
• Lack of eye focus
• Flushing of the face

You may also need an alcohol test if you are suspected of driving while intoxicated, says the NLM. For example, if you get pulled over by a law enforcement officer due to unsafe driving behavior, the law enforcement officer may require you to get an alcohol test. The NLM adds that an alcohol test may also be needed if you or your child are showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

In addition to the symptoms outlined above, alcohol poisoning may cause:

• Confusion
• Irregular breathing
• Low body temperature
• Seizures

Visit a hospital emergency room, urgent care center, or walk-in clinic if you’re not sure whether you need an alcohol test. A healthcare professional at one of these facilities can confirm whether an alcohol test is needed.

In many instances, an alcohol test is ordered or performed by a law enforcement officer, parole officer, employer, hospital emergency staff, or the staff at an alcohol treatment center, reports the NLM. These individuals or organizations will usually facilitate the test if it is suspected that you may be intoxicated or suffering from alcohol poisoning.

Another way to get an alcohol test is to use Solv to look for testing providers in your area. Solv has a directory that allows you to easily find places near you that offer alcohol testing. Then, you can contact the testing provider to make an appointment or schedule an appointment directly from the website.

An alcohol test can be used for a wide range of purposes. Legal evidence is one of the most common reasons to get an alcohol test.

According to the NLM, you may have an alcohol test to confirm whether you have been driving under the influence (DUI) and that your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control reports that you could get a DUI charge if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher.

Other reasons why you may need an alcohol test:

• If it is suspected that you are driving while intoxicated, you may be required to visit a medical facility to get a blood alcohol test.
• An alcohol test may also be used as part of a court case or parole agreement, an investigation into a criminal or motor vehicle accident, or to check for underage drinking, adds the NLM
• Some employers may require you to have an alcohol test before they hire you and then ask you to submit to random alcohol testing so they can check to see if you are drinking alcohol while working
• If you have an accident at the workplace, your employer may require you to have an alcohol test to determine whether alcohol was involved
• Other uses for an alcohol test, according to the NLM, include checking for alcohol poisoning and monitoring treatment for alcohol use disorder
• A hospital may use an alcohol test on you or your children if alcohol poisoning is suspected, such as if your children consumed a high amount of cold medicine
• A substance abuse treatment center may do an alcohol test to determine whether you have been staying abstinent from alcohol

An alcohol test is performed as a blood test. During this test, a healthcare worker will use a tiny needle to draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. According to the NLM, you may feel a slight sting as the needle goes in and out.

Your blood will be collected into a test tube or vial and evaluated in a lab to determine whether alcohol is present, along with the amount of alcohol you consumed. The NLM says a blood alcohol test usually lasts under five minutes.

Results from an alcohol test may vary based on factors such as your age, gender, and health history, reports the University of Rochester Medical Center. It adds that your test results may even be different depending on the lab you used.

The BAC level in your test results may also be given in different ways, says the University of Rochester Medical Center. According to the university, alcohol tests from law enforcement agencies report BAC as grams per deciliter (g/dL) or percent, and healthcare workers report BAC using milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

The NLM reports that the timing of an alcohol test may also affect your results, as these tests are accurate for only six to 12 hours after the last drink. The University of Rochester Medical Center adds that BACs will be different for each person based on factors including metabolism, body weight, and the amount of alcohol that was consumed.

According to the NLM, here’s what results from an alcohol test could mean:

Talk to the alcohol testing provider if you need help interpreting the results of your alcohol test or if you have questions about your results. The NLM suggests talking to a lawyer if you have concerns about your alcohol test results.