Free resources

A hand holding the Cansford Easy Read guide to having a drug or alcohol test
Our guides are designed to inform and support both those taking and instructing on testing

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Latest insights

A hand holding the Cansford Easy Read guide to having a drug or alcohol test

Our blog is where we unpack the science, share what’s changing in the world of testing, and answer your questions

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Frequently asked questions

A hand holding the Cansford Easy Read guide to having a drug or alcohol test

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Our FAQ page is here to help you find quick, clear, and helpful information about our services

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Our services

A hand holding the Cansford Easy Read guide to having a drug or alcohol test

Learn more about our full range of drug, alcohol and DNA testing services

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Free resources

A hand holding the Cansford Easy Read guide to having a drug or alcohol test

Our guides are designed to inform and support both those taking and instructing on testing

Download now →

Cansford Labs - Pioneering drug and alcohol testing
OUR CLIENTS

Workplace

Drug & alcohol testing that works as hard as you do. Fast turnarounds, trusted results, and total peace of mind.

ABOUT OUR TESTING

Hair and blood testing

We deliver fast, discreet, and ISO 17025-accredited drug and alcohol hair strand and blood testing for UK workplaces.

From airlines to recruitment firms, our hair and PEth DBS tests offer long detection windows and high accuracy—ideal for safety-critical and high-trust roles.

Protect your people. Stay compliant. We’ll help you choose the right testing solution.

Faster testing equals lower risk:

We test for an extensive and ever growing list of substances, including alcohol, steroids, prescription medications, and illicit drugs. Whether you need clarity on recent use or patterns over time, we’ll recommend the most suitable testing method for your situation – giving you fast, reliable answers that support confident decision-making.

Our hair strand and dry blood spot testing is non-invasive, discreet, and hard to manipulate—ideal for high-trust roles.

    Comprehensive test mix:

    Our offering includes a wide range of laboratory and point-of-care tests, with short, medium, and long detection windows – helping you detect drug and alcohol use historically and across long periods.

    • Pre-employment testing
    • Random testing
    • Continual Monitoring

    Protect employees to protect your organisation:

    Implementing workplace drug and alcohol testing ensures a safe and productive environment. That’s why we’re on hand to answer your questions at any time and offer expert witness support for representation at panel hearings, tribunals or in other courts, such as criminal or civil cases.

    Expert consultancy and support:

    We provide an expert sample-collection service or can train staff to perform collections in-house. Our 50+ network of collectors cover the whole of the UK and are experienced, professional and discreet, many of whom are former NHS nurses.

    Innovation and integrity:

    Over the last 12 months, 100% of our test results have been delivered within 3 days of receipt – faster than any other lab in the UK. We provide test quotes over the phone and can send our dedicated collectors to you within 48 hours, almost anywhere in the UK. They can come to your workplace, a GP practice or a home address, whichever is most convenient. 

    Our test types

    Hair Strand Testing

    Hair strand testing

    This test provides clear insights into drug use over an indefinite period, while alcohol use can be detected for up to six months. Our segmented analysis reveals patterns over time, providing deeper insight.

    Tests are able to detect a wide range of substances with just a small hair sample, it’s quick, non-invasive, and highly accurate.

    PEth Testing

    PEth testing

    This test detects alcohol use over the past month with unmatched sensitivity. We now include blood EtG in all PEth tests, which
    reveals alcohol intake in the last 2–3 days.

    Using a quick and painless dry blood spot test, we eliminate the need for venous blood collection, making the process faster,  easier, and just as reliable.

    Nail Testing

    Nail testing

    This test provides a detailed, long-term view of drug and alcohol use, detecting substances for up to 6 months, and works by analysing substances trapped in the keratin as the nail grows.

    We test for a wide range of drugs, as well as alcohol, offering a reliable alternative when hair testing isn’t possible.

    DNA Testing

    DNA testing

    DNA testing provides a fast, reliable way to confirm biological relationships, such as paternity, maternity, or sibling connections.

    We use a simple, painless cheek swab to collect DNA, with results available in just a few days. Whether for peace of mind or official matters, DNA testing delivers clear, conclusive answers.

    CDT Testing

    CDT testing

    This detects heavy alcohol intake over the past 2-4 weeks by measuring Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin, a biomarker affected by sustained alcohol use.

    CDT is tested through a venous blood sample and despite being an indicator for regular high alcohol intake, it is most effective when combined with other tests.

    What do we work with? More than…

    Partners Worldwide

    Organisations with thousands of employees

    Family solicitors in the UK

    Individuals UK wide

    Testimonials

    “Everyone was extremely impressed, particularly me by the sheer professionalism and to be honest commitment to turn this around so quickly for us. I really put myself into your hands to get it organised and all of you did not disappoint and in fact surpassed expectations”

    - HR Manager, Construction

    “We had a recommendation for Cansford Laboratories from a colleague. We are an Occupational Health Service and wanted to offer Drug & Alcohol Testing as part of our service, also one of our clients had also requested training for Drug & Alcohol Testing. Our client, our OH Trainer and myself attended a training course offered by Cansford Laboratories. From making the initial enquiry with Cansford Laboratories to the after sales service I found them to be extremely efficient”

    - Manager, OH Business

    “I would just like to take the opportunity to thank you for all your help, patience and advice with the tests Mr C****** has taken today. You have gone above and beyond previous companies I have worked with and I have been extremely impressed throughout”

    - Senior Manager

    “The turnaround times are so fast, prices very reasonable compared to some others and anyone I have talked to on the phone has always had the time to answer my questions (of which I’ve had a lot!)”

    - Individual