Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Ethyl Sulfate (EtS) Concentrations Following Use of Ethanol Containing Hand Sanitizer

Ethyl Glucuronide and Ethyl Sulfate Concentrations Following Use of Ethanol Containing Hand Sanitizer

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Introduction

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are minor nonoxidative direct biomarkers of ethanol ingestion. The 2-5 day detection window of EtG and EtS is superior to direct ethanol measurements, which is approximately 1 hour per standard drink. The sensitivity of EtG and EtS in urine for beverage ethanol consumption is greater than 90 percent and is therefore an extremely important assay for the early detection of relapse in alcohol abstention programs.1,2 Other indirect markers, such as CDT,
GGT, MCV, EDAC, WBAA, and FAEE have sensitivities of less than 90 percent3 and are therefore useless as a key indicator of relapse. The controversy outlined in the Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory4 raises the issue of the detection of EtG and EtS in urine as being too sensitive. To date, there is little published data on the correlation of unintentional ethanol exposure and the detection of EtG and EtS in urine. One possible source of unintentional ethanol ingestion is the use of ethanol-containing hand sanitizers. These products can contain between 60-65% ethanol by weight. A typical purse-sized package (4 fluid oz) contains as much as six standard 12g drinks of ethanol. Ethanol is readily absorbed into the skin.

Experimental

Dermal absorption of ethanol was studied by applying 0.5 g of Purell to the hands and messaging the gel into the hands. Purell, a popular over the counter anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, was chosen because of the large number of complaints in the general public that its use triggered positive urine EtG and EtS results. According to the product label, Purell contains 62% ethanol, which is an active antimicrobial ingredient. The equivalent number of 0.5 g doses to equal 1 standard 12g drink is 35-40 doses. This amount was considered to be adequate because it was just enough to entirely wet the hands up to the wrists. After both subjects demonstrated negative EtG and EtS baseline results, Purell usage was initiated and carried out once an hour for eight hours. Urine specimens were collected at 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, and 18 hours (first void next morning). The specimens were analyzed at USDTL for creatinine and ethanol on an Olympus AU640 using standard protocols. The limit of detection for urine ethanol was 3 mg/dL. EtG and EtS determinations were performed at USDTL using standard protocols on an API 2000 LCMSMS. The limit of detection for EtG and EtS was 38.7 ng/mL and 7.2 ng/mL, respectively.

A second study using 2.0 g of Purell was conducted by Subject A. This amount was considered to be excessive because the subject had to rely on messaging the gel up to her elbows to thoroughly apply the excess gel. The equivalent number of 2.0 g doses to equal 1 standard 12g drink is 8-10 doses. This procedure was carried out once per hour for eight hours. Urine specimens were captured at 3 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours and 20 hours (first void next morning). The specimens were analyzed at USDTL for creatinine and ethanol on an Olympus AU640 using standard protocols. EtG and EtS determinations were performed at USDTL using standard protocols on an API 2000 LCMSMS. The limit of detection for EtG and EtS was 38.7 ng/mL and 7.2 ng/mL, respectively. Subject A noted that her hands and cuticles became irritated near the end of the study.

Study subjects

The two subjects that volunteered for this study are employees of USDTL. Subject A was a 64 kg 44-year-old white female. Subject B was a 127 kg 41-year-old white male. Both subjects are self-reported social drinkers who abstained from social drinking during study segments.

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