Using hand gels could put motorists at risk of failing breath test

Published on Friday 27 May 2011 18:32

Frequent use of hand gels which contain alcohol could put people at risk of exceeding drink-drive limits, research suggests.

The study found that alcohol-based hand sanitisers could lead to a positive urine test for alcohol consumption.

This might be a danger for nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals who are encouraged to repeatedly apply hand-cleaning gels and sprays in order to keep hospitals and GP surgeries germ-free.

But Scottish medical experts warned the risks from healthcare associated infections (HAIs) such as MRSA were considerably greater than the small possibility of people exceeding drink drive limits.

In a study by the University of Florida College of Medicine, 11 volunteers who had not drunk alcohol for five days applied a hand sanitiser. According to its makers, the sanitiser used, Purell, had an alcohol by volume of 62 per cent.

Participants applied one squirt of sanitiser to their hands every five minutes for ten hours a day for three days. At the end of the trial, the urine of eight of the subjects contained levels of an alcohol-breakdown product that would indicate they had recently consumed alcohol.

The researchers admitted it would need large quantities of an alcohol-based hand sanitiser to start worrying about a positive urine result. But they said this could be a problem for healthcare professionals who frequently apply hand sanitiser during work.

In addition, some individuals with a history of drug or alcohol problems are required by their employer to abstain from alcohol and take frequent drug tests.

Researcher Gary Reisfield, an assistant psychiatry professor, said: "We would encourage these individuals to be aware of the many different sources of alcohol they can come across in daily life."

He said products such as cough syrup, aftershave and some brands of mouthwash contain alcohol and exposure to these substances might also cause a positive urine test result.

Alcohol in the breath - as measured by roadside breathalysers - will dissipate after a few hours.

But urine tests screen for breakdown products of alcohol that are more long lasting, including one called ethyl glucuronide.

A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association Scotland said: "It would appear from this study that the risk of a doctor being tested as over the alcohol limit for driving simply by using hand sanitiser is extremely remote.

"The risk of spreading HAIs, however, by not properly sanitising or washing hands between patients is far greater."

She added: "We would hope that this study does not in any way dissuade health professionals from adhering to NHS hand-hygiene policies."