Hair Alcohol Tests
- Comprehensive customer support package
- Fully managed nationwide sample collection service
- Results available within 7 working days from receipt of sample
- A scientific team led by internationally recognised forensic specialists
- Competitive pricing policy
- ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 accredited DNA testing laboratory
- Unrivalled range of chemical compounds detected
- Free sample collection materials
- Free CPD Course (subject to availability)
- Non invasive collection procedure
- Greater stability of sample for transport and storage
- Longer window of detection
- Demonstrates patterns of exposure
- More difficult to adulterate sample
Over the years the rise in the number of alcohol related conditions has become a major public health concern. Studies have estimated that 15% of the UK adult population has a medically defined alcohol problem, which poses a risk to both individuals and to their families and the wider community.
Alcohol, not only has toxic effects on the cells of the body, but prolonged use can also lead to more serious psychological damage such as; depression, aggression, dependency and impairment of judgment. This is of great conceern particularly if an individual’s capacity to take care of dependants (i.e. children) is diminished.
As with drugs, metabolites of alcohol consumption can be bound into keratinised material (nails and hair) and these provide a window of detection that can run into several months.
When alcohol is consumed, one of the main metabolites produces is Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG). The detection of EtG within hair or nail samples confirms alcohol consumption and thus it is a useful indicator in monitoring recovering alcoholics to ensure abstention.
If EtG is shown to be present in hair that is known to have grown during the subject’s active use of alcohol, then its absence in fresh hair growth provides strong support for the view that the person is abstaining from its use. However, its continued detection some months after the last supposed intake would confirm that the patient has relapsed.
