Alcohol can be detected in Breath, Urine and Hair. The easiest method is taking a Breath sample which needs to occur whilst following strict Chain of Custody procedures and the completion of the specialist testing forms.

A fully calibrated Breath Testing instrument can be defensible in Court, for a quick indication, an instant screening device can also be used.

The quickest and easiest method of Alcohol Testing is via a Breath sample. Chain of Custody procedures including the completion of a Breath Alcohol Testing Form are essential. The findings can be defensible in Court when using a calibrated testing instrument.

Limitations with Breath samples are the need to use a calibrated testing device and the short detection window. Alcohol detection in Urine and Hair is far longer and can give you information on Alcohol abuse.

This method can detect excessive consumption of alcohol over a period of time. Alcohol testing in hair can detect dependency for periods up to six months.

Alcohol has recently been classified as the fifth most harmful drug. For the first time ever, there is a non-invasive service to detect excessive consumption of alcohol over a period of time.

Unlike traditional methods, alcohol testing in hair can establish dependency for periods of up to six months.

As the first company to offer this test commercially, Trimega Laboratories, together with its team of researchers and scientists, has developed a system that clearly indicates or rules out alcohol abuse.

There are many considerations to take into account when deciding the reasons for testing your staff; who is going to achieve it? what method to use? and more importantly what fits within the day to day operation of your company.

A safer and healthier working environment is of benefit to everyone, whether an employee or member of the Public. Testing actively promotes this as long as it is used in the right way with the correct Support structures in place.

There are 4 main reasons why a company should test their staff. Companies can use all or a mixture of these reasons to test their staff:

Pre-employment Testing

To minimise the future risk of drug and alcohol issues entering the workplace. Before a new recruit is given a position within the company, they are tested to screen out possible future drug and/or alcohol related issues.

Random Testing

This is a mechanism to promote a drug/alcohol free working environment. Current employees are selected randomly to undertake a drug and/or alcohol test. Beacon utilise a specialist software programme to facilitate the Random Selection process. This is available for purchase by companies wishing to perform their own testing.

‘For cause’ or Post Incident Testing

Takes place following an incident, accident or reasonable suspicion. Beacon can supply a full 24/7 responsive collection service with arrival on site less than 2hrs from the initial phone call to our purpose Call Centre.

Follow Up Testing

As part of an ongoing ‘return to work’ programme often during the rehabilitation process.

The testing matrix used will depend upon factors and considerations such as detection window, space/facilities available, cost and others. Beacon can advise dependent on your individual circumstances what is the best fit with your requirements and limitations and can perform all collection types for you. A number of methods can be used together.

Advantages of Oral Fluid are:

• Non invasive
  
• Easy sample collection
  
• No required secure toilet
  
• Fully defensible with Chain of Custody collection
  
• Quick display of results
  
• Oral Fluid has a shorter window of detection than Urine and Hair.
  

Advantages of Urine are:

• A longer detection window
  
• Fully defensible with Chain of Custody collection
  
• Quick display of results
  
• Secured toilet facilities are required for urine collections, sample adulteration is possible if the Chain of Custody is not followed strictly.
  

The key adavntages of Hair are it has the longest window of detection where individual drug use can be detected at different periods of time. It can also be used to analyse Alcohol use.

Hair analysis is more expensive than other methods.

The quickest and cheapest way of performing a drug screen is with an instant device, whether using Urine or Oral Fluid/Saliva.

They are very accurate and prove to have considerable time and cost savings compared to Laboratory Screening. Any positive screening result must be backed up with a Chain of Custody sample collection for Laboratory Analysis which is fully defensible in court or tribunal.

The Chain of Custody defines a set of procedures from when a sample is given through the analytical process until it is finally destroyed.

If a screened sample is positive, a Chain of Custody sample must be taken to The Laboratory for expert GC-MS or LC-MS analysis. This process is defensible in employment hearings and known as the ‘gold standard’ for use in court.

Instead of using an instant screening device, Laboratory screening using Urine or Oral Fluid is available. Immunoassay screening is not a conclusive test but gives an indication whether a tested sample is positive or negative for the drug being tested for.

Full UKAS ‘Gold Standard’ GC-MS or LC-MS analysis is available with fast turn around times in Oral Fluid and Urine. This validates an immunoassay screen whether from an instant device or Laboratory screen.

Hair drug testing is a revolutionary method of testing for drugs using hair strand analysis used to establish and verify persistent substance misusers.

The need for hair drug testing has steadily increased in recent years and is currently used by corporate companies of all industry sectors (including forensics, maritime, insurance and rail), and also widely used and accepted by the UK courts.

Hair analysis not only determines the presence of an illegal substance, but it can also provide an accurate historical record of substance misuse. This helps in differentiating between a one-off user and a chronic substance abuser.

Alcohol has recently been classified as the fifth most harmful drug. For the first time ever, there is a non-invasive service to detect excessive consumption of alcohol over a period of time. Unlike traditional methods, alcohol testing in hair can establish dependency for periods of up to six months. This system clearly indicates or rules out alcohol abuse.

The use of anabolic steroids was officially banded in the mid-1970s by world sports authorities. The first control of anabolic steroids (particularly metandienone found in Dianabol) was achieved in Montreal in 1976 during the Olympic games.

The official detection of anabolic steroid misuse in sports is based on the analysis of urine samples. However, some athletes take long-term treatment of anabolic steroids during the winter month and stop before the competition, or will take them for periods ranging from four to 18 weeks, alternating with drug-free periods of one month to one year.

This is the reason why abusers can be found drug-free. Traditionally, anabolic steroids are detectable in urine only two to four days after exposure, except for ester forms found in the Trimega Hair Steroid test.

Medical Review is an integral part of any Confirmation Testing and Laboratory service. A Medical Review Officer discusses any medication taken by the Donor which could impact upon the final result.

Screening results are available from the Laboratory within 24hrs, Confirmations a further 2 days. Results can be sent via email, telephone on online via the Beacon Business Healthcare website.

Our Collectors are available throughout the UK for pre-employment, random, ‘for cause’ and follow up testing.

Oral Fluid, Urine and Hair samples can be collected whether screened instantly or sent to the Laboratory under Chain of Custody conditions for analysis.

A 24/7 callout service is available via our designated Call Centre with an arrival time of 2hrs on site from the time of the call.