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How can alcohol be measured in nails?
Like hair, nails are made from keratin, which is a fibrous protein. As the nail grows, substances can pass from the blood vessels below the nail into the keratin fibres where they become trapped. Biomarkers from alcohol can thus be detected.
Our nail alcohol testing analyses samples for a specific long-term marker of ethanol called ethyl glucuronide (EtG). These EtG biomarkers become trapped within the keratin fibres along the length of the nail providing a detection period of up to 6 months.
Why choose nail testing?
Analysing nail clippings for alcohol use can give an overview of up to 6 months.
Nail testing is ideal for those cases where hair testing is not possible (such as the donor has no or little hair, for religious reasons, and for those concerned with their appearance).
Rapid results from receipt of samples in the laboratory
How are the samples collected?
The nail needs to be collected as close to the nail bed as possible.
If the nail is longer than 5 mm or above, then only one nail would be required. If the nails are short then it may be best to take clippings from a couple of nails. Either fingernails or toenails can be used for the test, but not a mixture.
Approximately 10 mg of nail is required in total.
Legal nail alcohol testing
If legal alcohol testing is needed, the sample of nail clippings would need to be collected under chain of custody conditions to support legally defensible results. This would require an appointment with one of our trained sample collectors at a place convenient to the donor.
We have substantially invested in the very latest analytical testing equipment, and employ expert scientists, to ensure that our legal alcohol tests are as accurate as possible. However, because nail alcohol tests only detect EtG, AlphaBiolabs would always recommend that a blood test be taken to provide a greater insight into an individual’s level of alcohol consumption.
AlphaBiolabs can provide the most cost-effective solutions for your legal alcohol testing needs.