Even with an official court order, it can be difficult to understand which drug or alcohol test is required for a legal matter. In this article, we provide advice on choosing the right drug and alcohol test for your circumstances.

Choosing the right drug or alcohol test

All of our laboratory drug and alcohol tests can be used for legal purposes. Choosing the correct one for your circumstances depends on the requirements of a court order (if applicable), or the time frames associated with the period of analysis. For example, urine drug testing has a much shorter drug detection window than hair drug testing. As a result, hair drug testing is the most popular choice when it comes to providing evidence of drug or alcohol use to a court. As such, most court orders will request hair drug testing as the preferred method of toxicology testing.

In addition, there are also different options when it comes to alcohol testing. Courts will normally require a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption for an individual over a specific period of time to prove abstinence. As such, hair alcohol testing in combination with blood alcohol testing and PEth alcohol testing will provide this. However, there are further considerations and potential complexities for each of these tests. This is where the knowledge and experience of our team becomes invaluable. Our Clinical Account Managers will guide you through the process and ensure you are provided with test results that are fit for purpose.

What reasons might you need a private drug or alcohol test for court?

We have been providing drug and alcohol testing services for private individuals, solicitors and social services since 2010. During this time, we have come across many reasons why drug and alcohol testing is needed for legal purposes. In addition, it could be the case that the test is not required for legal purposes at all. For example, it could be that family members are concerned about loved ones due to changes in behaviour. Below is a list of the most popular reasons for private individuals requiring a drug or alcohol test, with useful links to further information where available.

Concerned parents worried about children.
Family members concerned about loved ones.
Evidence of abstinence for child contact/custody.
Wills and probate disputes.
Divorce proceedings.
Legal issues such as driving offences.
Industrial Tribunal proceedings.
Pre-employment drug testing for a new job.

There are many more reasons why a drug and alcohol test might be required. We aim to provide a comprehensive suite of test that cater for almost all circumstances. In addition, we also offer post-test counselling services at some of our drug testing clinics. This forms part of our unique after-testing service, which includes full telephone support by your dedicated case manager, who will provide advice and support every step of the way. So whatever the reason for your drug or alcohol test, we will provide you with the answers you are looking for.