Fast, accredited Alcohol Testing you can trust

The cost of an alcohol test depends on the type of test you need, how soon you need the results, and how you plan to use the results of the test (e.g. personal use, legal matters, workplace drug testing).

For more information or to request a quote for an alcohol test, call our friendly, knowledgeable Customer Services team on 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.

Our alcohol testing is accurate and reliable based on the samples we receive into our laboratory.

Our state-of-the-art toxicology laboratory is accredited to the quality technical standard of ISO 17025 (No. 2773).

Hair alcohol testing – also known as hair strand testing or hair follicle testing for alcohol – is a laboratory test used to gain insight into an individual’s historic alcohol consumption.

A head hair alcohol test works by analysing a cut hair sample for the presence of Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Ethyl Palmitate (EtPA/FAEE), both of which are direct biomarkers of alcohol.

When a person consumes alcohol, it is broken down by the liver and its metabolites (breakdown products/biomarkers) are released into the bloodstream. EtG and EtPa are absorbed into the hair via different routes and can be used to assess alcohol use.

Head hair can be used to test for chronic & excessive consumption or abstinence. If the sample donor has little or no head hair, body hair can also be used.

There are a variety of factors that can affect how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system. Age, weight, health conditions and any medications you’re taking all play a role in how quickly (or slowly) alcohol is metabolised by the body.

The sample type used for testing (e.g. hair, nails, blood, breath) also impacts how far back alcohol consumption can be detected.

Here’s a general guide to detection windows for different sample types:

• Head hair – for a period spanning one month to 6 months
• Body hair – for a period of up to 12 months
• Nails – up to approximately 12 months (up to 6 months for fingernail clippings and up to 12 months for toenail clippings)
• Blood – detection windows vary depending on the test type. PEth – the gold standard of blood alcohol testing – provides an overview of up to 4 weeks for historic alcohol consumption
• Breath – instant test to measure current alcohol consumption

The SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM)® bracelet can also be used to monitor real-time alcohol use. Worn around the ankle, SCRAM CAM detects traces of alcohol for as long as it remains in a person’s system/sweat and will register any alcohol present within the detection range.

If you’re unsure which alcohol test is right for you, we’re here to help.

Call us on 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.

Both blood alcohol tests and breath alcohol tests are used to measure the amount of alcohol in a person’s system, but they work in different ways and are used for different purposes.

• Blood alcohol tests can be used to detect chronic and excessive alcohol consumption or abstinence, depending on the test type. PEth, a direct biomarker of alcohol and the gold standard of blood alcohol testing, provides an overview of up to 4 weeks for historic alcohol consumption or abstinence. CDT, LFT and MCV tests all look at indirect biomarkers, and have varying detection windows (CDT, up to 1 month; LFT, snapshot of current liver function; MCV, approx. 4-month overview).
• A breath alcohol test is used to measure alcohol concentration in a person’s breath, for an insight into current alcohol consumption rather than historic alcohol consumption.

These tests can also be used together to support ongoing monitoring or provide stronger evidence for legal cases.

To find out more or request a quote, call us on 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.

Blood alcohol testing can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Child welfare or safeguarding – where evidence of alcohol misuse or abstinence is required to make important decisions about a child’s care.
• Supporting recovery from alcohol misuse – to monitor a person’s progress in recovery programmes
• Post-incident or return-to-work testing – to demonstrate abstinence following an incident at work
• Fitness-to-drive – If you have previously lost your driving licence due to a drink driving offence, the DVLA will request that you attend a fitness-to-drive medical before your licence can be reinstated. This includes a Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test; a type of blood alcohol test
• Other official matters – such as private child custody or divorce proceedings, industrial tribunal proceedings etc.

For more information or to request a quote for a blood alcohol test, call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.

Several factors can affect the results of an alcohol test, including:

• The type of test used – different tests detect alcohol consumption over different timeframes
• How much alcohol was consumed
• When alcohol was consumed
• Individual differences such as biological sex, age, weight, liver function and metabolism
• Medications or medical conditions
• Hair or nail treatments (for hair and nail alcohol tests)

All of AlphaBiolabs’ alcohol testing is performed at our accredited laboratory, so you can be sure of receiving fast, accurate, reliable results.

Call us on 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie to find out more or request a quote for an alcohol test.