Hair, Nail, Saliva, Urine & Alcohol Testing

Recently, hair testing has come to be seen as a powerful tool for the detection of drug and alcohol abuse.
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Hair, Nail, Saliva, Urine & Alcohol Testing

Recently, hair testing has come to be seen as a powerful tool for the detection of drug and alcohol abuse. Hair provides a long-term history of drug and alcohol abuse by trapping biomarkers in the fibres of the growing hair strand. When collected close to the scalp, hair can provide up to a 3-month history of alcohol and drug abuse. Highly stable, simple to collect, and easy to ship and store, fingernails provide a test sample that is at the cutting edge of drug and alcohol testing. Fingernails are made up of keratin, the same material that hair is made of. As the nail grows, substances can pass from the blood vessels below the nail into the keratin fibres where they become trapped. Nails can provide up to a 3-month history of alcohol and drug abuse. The turn around time for hair or nail results is usually 4-6 business days.

We do hair follicle and nail testing. These tests screens for illicit drug use and the misuse of prescription drug medication. During these tests, a small amount of hair is removed from your head using scissors or nail clippings of the ten fingers are used. These samples are then analyzed for drug use signs during the 90 days preceding the tests. Multiple drugs and alcohol could be found in these specimens.

Saliva

A mouth swab drug test detects substances in a person’s system by checking for the presence of drugs or alcohol in the saliva. These tests are quick and easy to carry out, cause no pain to the individual and are very cost-effective. They can detect drugs used within the past few days. Saliva can be tested mainly for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamines and others. Saliva testing typically has a 2-3 business day turnaround time.

Please note that oral fluid is not as accepted as urine. Oral testing is best used to complement a urine test.

Urine

Urine drug testing completed in a laboratory is the most accurate type of drug testing. If you can afford to wait for the urine drug test result, this is our first recommendation for drug testing. Laboratory based urine drug testing is recognized in Canada and USA. Our laboratory testing is administered by Gamma-Dynacare and USDTL Medical Laboratories which is certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and US Department of Transportation (DOT). The turnaround time is usually 2-3 business days.

Breathalyzer

A breathalyzer is a device for estimating blood alcohol content (BAC) from a breath sample to detect alcohol within a shorter time frame. This is about 24 hours on average or less.

  • Breath alcohol testing determines the concentration of alcohol in a breath sample.
  • We administer breath alcohol testing using evidential breath-testing devices for both screening tests and confirmation tests, to ensure accurate results.
  • Screening Tests – Determines a person’s alcohol concentration level
  • Confirmation Tests – Determines a person’s alcohol concentration level
  • Our alcohol testing is administered by Certified Breath Alcohol Technicians and our equipment is regularly calibrated.
  • The turnaround time is usually 2-3 business days if sent to the lab, instant if using a breathalyzer or 4-6 business days if tested in hair and nail.

Dried Blood Spots (PEth)

Dried blood spot collection is the fastest, most convenient way to test for phosphatidyl ethanol. Unlike venipuncture, dried blood spot collection is performed by the individual being tested (the donor) but observed by our certified staff. PEth is an abnormal phospholipid formed in red blood cells following alcohol exposure. PEth is a mid to long-term alcohol biomarker, and a positive result is an indication of alcohol exposure during the ~2-4 weeks prior to specimen collection.

POCT Instant Testing

If you need results fast, this is the best option for you.  We use Verichek for reliable, accurate and simplified results. Express or point-of-collection (POCT) tests have the same cutoff levels as laboratory tests but are not recognized by US DOT. We encourage you to have all non-negative tests sent to the laboratory for confirmation to ensure accuracy and legal defensibility. The turnaround time with POCT Instant Testing is within 15 minutes.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Reach out to us today to schedule your testing appointment. Questions or concerns? Our team is ready to help.
Woman doctor using a microscope to investigate urine samples