Expert: Dr.Paul Skett - 9/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dr Skett
for purposes of regaining custody of my daughter I recently had a hair alcohol test, to detect EtG levels. It came back positive although I have not drunk at all for months. At the time of testing I had not had any alcohol at all for approx 4 months. The test was supposed to clear me from drinking for previous two months only so it should have been negative. The EtG level detected in my result was 0.054 ng/mg. This is too high I think to be explained by accidental alcohol exposure, eg hygiene products. Assuming lab has not mixed up/contaminated my sample,what could have gone wrong? Does EtG stay in some people's hair for longer, for eg, or perhaps hair that is slow to grow could make a false positive? Could meds affect test? I am devastated because I was about to get my 7 y/o daughter back and now there will be more delay, and probably the court will think I am lying. I have heard btw that this test is not accepted by many US courts (I am in Australia).Also on web I have come across many anecdotes from people who have had false positives from this same test. Please help me!
regards
Cathleen

ANSWER: Hi,
Unusual to get a false positive for this as it measures an alcohol metabolite which can't easily come from anywhere else.
Best wishes,
Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr Skett
I have new results from LFT test and transferrin test which contradict the false positive hair test, according to my dr. Can u help me interpret them as well please?
RE the LFT: My LFT was as high as 126 about a year ago when I was still drinking. It is now 34 after almost six months with no alcohol. My dr says 31 is ideal but that maybe my liver is still recovering and that this result, even if it doesn't prove my abstinence, indicates at least a drastic cutback in alcohol consumption over the last months.
RE my Transferrin Test: my dr also said this also was strong evidence in favour of showing I hadn't been drinking. I can't understand result sheet very well though so can you please explain it a little more for me? It says:
Iron umo1/L: 6 (ref: 11-27)
Transferrin umol/L: 28 (ref: 20-45)
TFN Satn % 11: (ref: 15-55)
Ferritin:ug/L 88 (ref: 15-200)
There is also a note on this saying my low iron is probably due to 'intercurrent illness'.
Do these tests support my case re my abstinence over last 6 months?  

Answer
Hi, Cathleen,

Thanks for your follow-up question.

These results are all about iron in the body. Your blood iron levels are low but iron carrying proteins (transferrin and ferritin) are normal - transferrin saturation level is low (consistent with low iron and normal transferrin). Low blood iron can be dietary or due to illness (or abnormally large menstrual bleeding or blood loss).

Significant decrease in LFT is good and shows a recovering liver - all point to false positive but as I said earlier this is unusual and I have not seen any proven false positives in this test.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Paul