Alcohol testing
Our rapid, accurate and discreet hair strand and blood analysis for testing of alcohol misuse. Cansford is the UK’s only laboratory to offer segmented hair testing to help prove abstinence
We can test for alcohol consumption through:
Hair strand testing for EtG and EtPa
Nail testing for EtG
Dry blood spot PEth and EtG
Venous blood testing for CDT, LFT and FBC
We are proud to be the UK’s fastest alcohol testing service for our clients. All results within three working days of receipt at our lab.
We provide comprehensive alcohol testing designed to give a clear and accurate picture of a person’s drinking habits. Our tests can detect recent consumption and help identify patterns over time, giving valuable insight whenever alcohol use is a concern.
Our testing can confirm abstinence, monitor ongoing use, or better understand someone’s drinking behaviour. It is especially useful when consumption habits have changed, when compliance is important, or when safety-sensitive environments need to be protected.
With fast turnaround times and clear, easy-to-understand reporting, we help you make informed decisions with confidence and provide peace of mind for employers, legal professionals, and individuals alike.
Hair strand testing
Hair alcohol tests detect EtG and EtPa — direct biomarkers of alcohol consumption. These markers only appear if alcohol has been consumed and absorbed into the hair, making them reliable for assessing long-term use (from over a week up to six months).
Cansford is one of the only UK labs to offer sectional analysis for alcohol testing of EtG and EtPa. As with sectional drug analysis, this can allow for examination of a person’s alcohol consumption habits at different points over a period of time. Sectional alcohol testing is only advised when the donor has drastically changed their consumption habits.
Blood testing
Dry blood spot PEth testing detects alcohol use over the past month with unmatched sensitivity. We also include complimentary blood EtG with all PEth tests, which reveals alcohol intake in the last 2–3 days.
CDT testing 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.
Expert report writing
Clear, detailed, and court ready – our expert report writing service provides everything you need to support your case.
Every test we conduct comes with a certificate of analysis, but when you need a more in-depth explanation, our reporting scientists can provide a comprehensive, written, expert report. This includes a formal declaration of results, details on our reporting scientists’ qualifications, and key information about the sample.
Following feedback from family law professionals, we’ve designed our reports to ensure they meet the highest standards and usability.