ETG Test and Infection: What to Know About False Positives

An infection, in and of itself, will not cause a positive ETG (ethyl glucuronide) test. ETG is a direct metabolite of ethyl alcohol (ethanol), and its presence in urine or other body fluids is an indicator of recent alcohol consumption. Infections can cause inflammation and other physiological changes that may affect the metabolism of alcohol, but they do not directly produce ETG.