Urine Alcohol Sample Analysis

Bunny Buster

Hi there, I am looking for an answer to the following question....


How long before a sample of urine can be accurately tested for alcohol content?

A few months ago I was required to give a sample of urine because I was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. The sample was divided into two seperate containers and I kept one of them for my own reference. The other was sent to the Medical Bureau Of Road Safety for analysis. I was waiting for a certain period of time for the results, and was wondering what is the time frame before such samples can be tested and give an accurate reading/result? For example, if the sample was given on the 1st day of March, what date would it have to be tested, before a sample might go stale, in order to get a proper reading?

I hope that there is someone who can answer the above questions and I thank you in advance,

BB.

Paulw

Bunny Buster wrote: »

How long before a sample of urine can be accurately tested for alcohol content?

I believe it's up to 4 (room temp), but a max of 8 hours (fridge temp), before the sample starts to degrade.

Of course, it could also be frozen for later testing, in lab conditions.

Just do a google search to get the answers I found.

Bunny Buster

I tried Google but cannot seem to find a definite answer. My sample was taken in the early hours on a Sunday morning, which was also a Bank Holiday weekend. It would have been the Tuesday morning before it could be posted away to The Bureau, and the date on the analysis/results sheet is 15 days after the sample was given. I take it that was the date the test was carried out on, as there is nothing to state otherwise.

It's just that I seen a similar case where a fella was in the same situation as myself, and when he got the report back it was inconclusive due to the fact that the sample was over 10 days old, thus the sample being " stale ".

Hooch

Ya generally a week. After that Labs wont be able to correctly test the specimen (Just to be pedantic, there is no such thing as a sample)

Bunny Buster

nice guy always wrote: »

Ya generally a week. After that Labs wont be able to correctly test the specimen (Just to be pedantic, there is no such thing as a sample)

That is what I was thinking myself, kind of stands to reason when you think about it!? But is there anywhere that this can be clarified? As of yet, I haven't seen anything to confirm this.

Hooch

Bunny Buster wrote: »

That is what I was thinking myself, kind of stands to reason when you think about it!? But is there anywhere that this can be clarified? As of yet, I haven't seen anything to confirm this.

Its not a legal issue, but a medical one. Talk to a Doctor, they should be able to explain better.

Bunny Buster

Cheer Nice Guy, with all that I have going on at the minute, I didn't even think of that! :P:P I will do that, and see what he says. Now, time for The Simpsons, haha! :D:D