Alcohol Testing

Alcohol tests are usually given at medical facilities, such as hospital emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and walk-in clinics. If you need to locate a provider that offers alcohol testing, use Solv to narrow your options to only the highest-rated providers and book an appointment online right away with no phone call necessary.

What is an alcohol test?

An alcohol test is a test that measures the amount of alcohol or ethanol you have in your body. It can be done as a blood test, urine test, or breathalyzer test. An alcohol test is commonly used to determine whether you have been drinking alcohol and the amount you drank.

What is an alcohol test used for?

An alcohol test can be used for a wide range of purposes. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) legal evidence is one of the most common reasons to get an alcohol test.

You may have an alcohol test to confirm whether you have been driving under the influence (meaning that you were operating a moving vehicle while your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit). In most states, 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, according to the NLM include

• 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.
• Some employers may require you to have an alcohol test before they hire you or may 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.
• Checking for alcohol poisoning or monitoring the success of treatment for alcohol poisoning or alcohol use disorder.
• A hospital may also 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.

Who should get an alcohol test?

You may need an alcohol test if you are showing symptoms of intoxication. According to the NLM, 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, according to the NLM. For example, if you get pulled over by a law enforcement officer due to unsafe driving behavior, the 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, the NLM reports that 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.

What to expect with an alcohol test

An alcohol test can be performed as a blood test, urine test, or breathalyzer test. Your experience will vary, depending on which type of test you have done.

During an alcohol blood test, a trained professional will use a tiny needle to draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm or hand. 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.

During an alcohol urine test, a sample of your urine is collected in a sterile collection cup. The urine collection may be done with supervision from a trained professional, but your modesty should be protected. The urine sample is then sent to a lab to determine the presence and amount of alcohol.

During an alcohol breathalyzer test, you will exhale into a breathalyzer device that will immediately measure the amount of alcohol concentration in your breath. This test is performed by a trained professional such as a law enforcement officer or healthcare worker—or can be done by yourself with a personal breathalyzer device.

What preparation is needed for an alcohol test?

There is no special preparation needed for an alcohol test, according to the NLM. However, the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests telling the testing provider about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, as they may affect your results.

How can I find an alcohol test provider near me?

An easy and convenient way to find an alcohol test provider in your area is to use Solv.

Solv features a directory that narrows your options to only the highest-rated providers in your area. It also gives you the ability to make an appointment directly from the website.

What’s the difference between an alcohol blood test and an alcohol breath test?

A blood test checks for the presence and amount of alcohol in your blood. An alcohol breath test (also known as a breathalyzer test) checks your breath for the presence and amount of alcohol being metabolized by your body. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, although both very accurate, a blood test is more accurate than a breathalyzer test.

Understanding alcohol test results

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. They also add 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:

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)	Alcohol Test Results
0.0%	Sober
0.08%	Legally Intoxicated
0.08% - 0.4%	Legally Intoxicated and very impaired; you may have difficulty speaking and walking. Other symptoms of “very impaired” include nausea, confusion, and drowsiness
0.4% or higher	Legally Intoxicated and at risk for serious complications such as coma or death

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.

How to get an alcohol test

In many instances, an alcohol test is ordered or performed by:

• A law enforcement officer
• Parole officer
• Employer
• Hospital emergency staff
• Staff at an alcohol treatment center,

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.

Can I get an at-home alcohol test?

Yes, you can get an at-home alcohol test. There are various types of at-home alcohol tests available on the market, including breathalyzer devices, saliva tests, and urine tests. These tests can provide an estimate of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, which is the amount of alcohol present in your blood.

It is important to note that the accuracy of at-home alcohol tests can vary, and they may not be as reliable as professional testing conducted by a healthcare provider or law enforcement agency. However, they can still provide a general indication of your BAC level, which can be helpful if you need to determine whether it is safe for you to drive or operate heavy machinery.

Cost of an alcohol test

The cost of home alcohol tests can vary depending on the type of test and the brand. Here are some rough estimates from FindLabTest.com giving an average cost for different types of home alcohol tests:

• Breathalyzer devices: $30 to $150
• Saliva tests: $5 to $20 per test
• Urine tests: $10 to $30 per test

Medical-grade alcohol tests vary in price depending on location and insurance coverage. The national average for medical-grade alcohol testing is $55 to $149.