Parental Drug & Alcohol Misuse

 

In order to protect children, it is sometimes necessary for courts to direct that adults directly concerned in their welfare be screened for the presence of alcohol and drugs.

 

Analysis of urine and hair can be used as tools to help demonstrate abstention from alcohol and drug misuse.

Sample Types

 

Urine

Many drugs of abuse can be detected in urine for several days after the last instance of use. Cannabis however and some benzodiazepine tranquillisers can be detected in urine for a longer period of time, depending upon the pattern of abuse – for up to several weeks in regular users.

 

Urine is not the ideal matrix for evidence of alcohol abstention. Learn more about the collection, analysis, cutoff levels, scope of analysis and use of alcohol markers here

 

Hair

The use of hair is particularly useful as it enables drug abuse to be detected over a much longer period of time.

 

Body hair (underarm, chest or pubic) can also be used, but the growth rate of non-scalp hair is less predictable and generally represents a longer time period.

 

Although alcohol cannot be measured directly in hair, it is possible to measure a number of minor alcohol metabolites; the presence of these compounds in a sample of hair can be used as a marker for chronic excessive alcohol use and self-declared abstinence. Learn more about the collection, analysis, cutoff levels, scope of analysis and use of alcohol markers, segmental analysis and hair drug (& Alcohol) Panels here

 

Hair + Urine

It can take a week or so for drugs to be incorporated into hair. Consequently, combining urine and hair tests can be particularly useful. Because both samples are collected at the same time, this is also cost effective. It is also be useful if conclusive proof of recent cannabis use is required.

 

Blood

Blood testing for alcohol markers can be a useful adjunct to hair and urine testing or as part of an ongoing monitoring regime. The results should not be used in isolation of other evidence.

The assessment of alcohol consumption is best carried out using several analytical tests and other factors. Learn more about the collection and analysis for blood testing  here

 

 

 

General Comments

 

It should be noted that a negative result does not preclude the possibility that trace levels of drug(s) may still be present in the sample at sub-cut-off levels. The absence of drugs in urine or hair does not preclude the possibility that drugs may be present at low concentrations.

 

If benzodiazepines and certain analgesics are detected, their presence may be due to prescription medication. It is therefore important for the donor to declare any medication at the time of collection.

 

Collection of urine and hair can be arranged at a Belfast City Centre location. Special arrangements can be made for collection at other locations.

It is essential that the donor can produce photographic ID at the time of collection.

 

The donor will be asked to provide a sample of urine, blood or hair for analysis. Donors are routinely breathtested for alcohol at the time of collection.

 

If urine only is to be collected, the donor should be given short notice (preferably day before) of the collection date, which we can arrange between us. It should be noted that urine testing can only detect alcohol abuse for a short period after drinking (up to perhaps 10 hours or so); if alcohol misuse is an issue, hair analysis may be more appropriate.

 

Analysis

The sample(s) will be despatched to the laboratory for analysis and results are usually available within 10 working days for urine and within 15 working days for hair (defined panels, measured from the time the sample is received in the laboratory). All analyses are carried out in a laboratory fully accredited to the international standard ISO17025, or its equivalent.

 

Report

A report will be issued to the instructing professional (eg. solicitor or social worker) outlining the test results and including an interpretative explanation. It will be explained that urine results relate only to the status of the individual at the time of collection.

 

Scientific case reporting and peer review is carried out by a team of forensic toxicologists who have many years’ experience with this type of work within the criminal justice system.

 

Pricing (quoted prices are exclusive of VAT)

Hair and Urine drug and alcohol testing includes:

- Sample Collection at Nivha Locations

- Collection Kit

- Transportation to laboratory

- Analysis & laboratory report

- Expert Report

- Free Cancellation up to 24hrs before appointment

- Request a fee note at info@nivha.net

 

Blood alcohol markers include:

- Sample Collection at Nivha Locations

- Collection Kit

- Transportation to laboratory

- Analysis & laboratory report

- General interpretive comments included in laboratory report

- Free Cancellation up to 24hrs before appointment

- Request a fee note at info@nivha.net

 

Additional Services

Collection can be provided at customer’s offices at an additional cost of £50 (plus travel time at £20/hour plus mileage at 45p/mile (paid in advance)