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What makes AlphaBiolabs the BEST CHOICE for your alcohol testing requirements:
- ISO 17025-accredited laboratory
- Hair, nail clippings, and blood samples analysed
- Breath alcohol testing and SCRAM CAM® also offered
- All testing performed in-house by expert toxicologists
- Fast results
- Full range of alcohol tests for personal, court/official or workplace matters
- Widest range of sample collection options – at home, local authority offices, the workplace, our walk-in centres and more
- Price-match promise – so you can be confident you will always get the best value for money
Not sure which test you need? Our experts can help.
Expert alcohol testing from an accredited laboratory
Hair alcohol testing
Hair alcohol testing using head hair can be used to test for both chronic & excessive alcohol consumption (EtG & EtPa), as well as abstinence (EtG only), for a period spanning up to 12 months (segmented or overview analysis).
Body hair can be used to provide an overview of chronic & excessive alcohol consumption, or to determine abstinence (EtG only), for a period of up to 12 months.
For more information or to get a quote, please call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie
Blood alcohol testing
We recommend a blood test to detect alcohol biomarkers in conjunction with clinical assessment to gain a greater insight into an individual’s alcohol use.
We offer four types of blood alcohol test at AlphaBiolabs, which can be combined for the most comprehensive insight into alcohol misuse.
- PEth – a direct biomarker of alcohol, and the most accurate of the blood tests to determine alcohol abuse (4-week overview of chronic & excessive consumption or abstinence)
- CDT – measures the percentage of transferrin in the bloodstream that is carbohydrate deficient; a very good indicator of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption (4-week overview)
- LFT – assesses the functionality of the liver (‘snapshot’ in time)
- MCV – an elevated MCV marker is an indicator of alcohol ingestion (4-month overview)
For more information or to get a quote, please call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.
Nail alcohol testing
Nail clipping alcohol testing is ideal for those cases where hair alcohol testing is not possible (such as the donor has little or no hair, for religious reasons, and for those concerned with their appearance).
The test can be used to monitor chronic & excessive alcohol consumption or abstinence and can also be used to complement other forms of alcohol testing including blood, hair, breath and SCRAM CAM®.
Fingernail clippings offer an overview of alcohol consumption up to approximately 6 months, while toenail clippings provide an overview of up to approximately 12 months.
For more information or to get a quote, please call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie
Breath alcohol testing
The person being tested for alcohol use blows into a breath alcohol device, and the results are given as a digital readout. The readout is a number, known as the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), which shows the level of alcohol in the breath at the time the test was taken. It does not measure historical use of alcohol.
AlphaBiolabs can provide a number of devices for breath alcohol testing dependent on your individual needs.
For more information or to get a quote, please call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie
SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring®
SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring® (SCRAM CAM®) is an innovative way of testing a participant’s alcohol consumption over a defined period of time. The tamper-proof SCRAM CAM® bracelet can be worn for as long as is required, depending on the needs of the Instructing Party.
Because of its transdermal method of detection (through the skin) every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, the non-invasive bracelet provides a comprehensive profile of a participant’s drinking activities throughout the entire day and night.
For more information or to get a quote, please call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie
What our customers say…
Highly recommended
I highly recommend AlphaBiolabs for anyone seeking a professional and thorough service. The testing is comprehensive and the reports are user‑friendly.
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The best
Excellent service with a fast response.
I have used others, but AlphaBiolabs are the best.
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Excellent service all round – I am very happy to recommend AlphaBiolabs!
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Nationwide sample collection
We have a nationwide network of professionally trained sample collectors who can visit you at your home, office or other location. We also operate walk-in centres in Dublin and Belfast where we can collect samples for members of the public, family law professionals, social workers, local authorities and the workplace.
To arrange an appointment simply call us on 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.
Frequently asked questions
For a court-admissible alcohol test, highly-experienced toxicologists analyse biological samples (blood, hair, nails) for the presence of alcohol biomarkers; byproducts of alcohol created when ethanol is processed by the body.
The results are analysed in accordance with established cut-off levels to determine whether the person has been drinking alcohol to a chronic, excessive level, whether their drinking has been within more moderate parameters, or whether they are abstinent.
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 offer differing detection windows, 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.
- 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.
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.
The type of alcohol test you need depends on your case, what type and period of analysis you require, and the sample type available.
For example, where a history of consumption needs to be proven, blood, hair and nail alcohol tests provide insight into drinking behaviours over a defined period.
Where real-time results are needed, breath testing and SCRAM CAM® can be used to demonstrate that an individual has committed to reducing their alcohol intake or show that alcohol consumption has occurred within the days/hours prior to important welfare decisions being made.
Both wide-window tests and those offering real-time results can be used together to gain a thorough and accurate assessment of a person’s drinking patterns over time.
