Blood alcohol testing for family law
A comprehensive overview
When used alongside hair testing, blood alcohol testing helps to provide a comprehensive view of chronic excessive alcohol use so you have a well-rounded body of evidence for court. We offer blood tests for phosphatidylethanol (PEth), liver function testing (LFT) and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT).
For PEth testing, we offer two forms of collection: venous and dried blood spot. The latter is perfect for needle-phobic donors as only a small prick to the finger is required and collection takes less than two minutes.
No single test is able to provide a definitive assessment of alcohol use so we recommend hair alcohol testing is used in conjunction with either PEth or CDT and LFT blood tests.
How it works
Phosphatidyethanol (PEth)
PEth is a direct biomarker found in red blood cell membranes following alcohol consumption. This test isn’t affected by medication or health problems and provides a detection period of up to four weeks prior to sample collection. For needle-phobic donors, we offer dried blood spot testing, which only requires a small prick to the finger.
Liver function testing (LFT)
A liver function test provides a snapshot of potential liver damage due to excessive alcohol use by monitoring biomarkers in the blood stream. Any damage to the liver alters the biomarkers in the blood stream allowing any impairment to be highlighted.
Carbohydrate deficient transferrin test (CDT)
CDT measures the percentage of the protein transferrin that is deficient in carbohydrate. Alcohol consumption can interfere with the binding of carbohydrate molecules to transferrin and so excessive alcohol use two to four weeks prior to the test can elevate levels of transferrin that is deficient in carbohydrate, making it a good marker to assess alcohol consumption.
Get in touch
Why Lextox?
Professionally trained phlebotomists.
Legally defensible analysis results and expert reports accepted in every UK family court.
Analysis in accordance with the Society of Hair Testing’s internationally agreed standards.
Direct contact with our Lextox experts, with over 100 years’ combined experience.
Competitive pricing in accordance with LAA codified rates.
Dedicated client managers who will manage your case from start to finish.
Blood alcohol testing for family law
Book testing
Book testing
A comprehensive overview
When used alongside hair testing, blood alcohol testing helps to provide a comprehensive view of chronic excessive alcohol use so you have a well-rounded body of evidence for court. We offer blood tests for phosphatidylethanol (PEth), liver function testing (LFT) and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT).
For PEth testing, we offer two forms of collection: venous and dried blood spot. The latter is perfect for needle-phobic donors as only a small prick to the finger is required and collection takes less than two minutes.
Phosphatidyethanol (PEth)
PEth is a direct biomarker found in red blood cell membranes following alcohol consumption. This test isn’t affected by medication or health problems and provides a detection period of up to four weeks prior to sample collection. For needle-phobic donors, we offer dried blood spot testing, which only requires a small prick to the finger.
Liver function testing (LFT)
A liver function test provides a snapshot of potential liver damage due to excessive alcohol use by monitoring biomarkers in the blood stream. Any damage to the liver alters the biomarkers in the blood stream allowing any impairment to be highlighted.
Carbohydrate deficient transferrin test (CDT)
CDT measures the percentage of the protein transferrin that is deficient in carbohydrate. Alcohol consumption can interfere with the binding of carbohydrate molecules to transferrin and so excessive alcohol use two to four weeks prior to the test can elevate levels of transferrin that is deficient in carbohydrate, making it a good marker to assess alcohol consumption.
