Saliva alcohol test strips detect the presence of alcohol in a drink already consumed. These tests are used to assess a person's blood alcohol level, and advise that you should wait at least five minutes after drinking or smoking to use, since they are extremely sensitive. Using these immediately after a drink has been consumed will render the results inaccurate, however, they will prove absolutely whether a drink has alcohol in it. These strips are placed under the tongue for about 20 seconds, until they are fully saturated with saliva, and then removed. Within about a minute, the results are displayed via color, which translates to an approximate blood alcohol level.
A blood alcohol test measures the amount of alcohol in a sample of your blood. You will have alcohol in your blood if you've been drinking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol is also called ethanol. It's the main ingredient of alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits (liquor). When you have an alcoholic drink, the alcohol is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream. Your liver breaks down the alcohol so your body can get rid of it.
If you drink faster than your liver can break down alcohol, the alcohol level in your blood will increase and you may start to feel intoxicated (drunk). Alcohol intoxication affects how your brain works. At first, you may feel more relaxed, or talkative than usual. As alcohol levels increase, you may have some problems thinking clearly. You make have difficulty with your balance, slurred speech, slowed reaction time, and loss of judgement.
Continuing to drink after you are intoxicated can lead to an alcohol overdose. Symptoms include vomiting, trouble breathing, and passing out. An alcohol overdose can lead to coma or death.
There are a few blood tests that can measure whether a person has been drinking. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test is commonly used to see if a person has been drinking recently. It is also called a blood alcohol content test. This test can find alcohol in your blood for up to 12 hours after drinking. It can also show the amount of alcohol that you drank.
Other blood tests measure substances that may stay in your blood for weeks after you've had alcohol. These tests are typically used to test for alcohol use disorder (AUD) or to check whether a person recovering from AUD has stayed sober.
Other names: blood alcohol level test, ethanol test, ethyl alcohol, blood alcohol content