top of page

Drug and Alcohol Testing

 

Drug and alcohol abuse can significantly impact workplace safety and the health and wellbeing of your employees.

 

A drug and alcohol testing program is important in situations where a worker could potentially seriously harm or injure themselves, another worker or a member of the public if they work while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. 

​

The team at South East Industrial Health provide different types of drug and alcohol testing services for the following:

​

  • As part of a pre employment medical assessment

  • Random testing programs

  • Post incident testing

 

Drug and alcohol testing can be conducted in-clinic or on site depending on the requirements of the organisation.

Hair Follicle Testing

 

Hair follicle drug/alcohol testing is a method used to detect the presence of various illicit and prescription drugs and alcohol in an individual's system. Here's a breakdown of what it entails:

​

Detected Substances

​

Hair follicle tests can identify a range of substances including:

​

  • Amphetamine type stimulants (e.g. Speed, Ice and Ecstasy)

  • Benzodiazepines (e.g. Sleeping Tablets and Relaxants)

  • Cannabis (Marijuana and THC)

  • Cocaine

  • Opiates (e.g. Heroin, Codeine and Morphine)

  • Alcohol

 

Sample Collection

​

A hair sample of around 200mg is typically collected from the back of the scalp, near the vertex. If scalp hair is

insufficient or too short (less than 1 cm), beard hair may be used as an alternative. However, this can make it

challenging to determine the time frame covered by the sample.

​

Benefits

​

Hair follicle testing offers several advantages:

​

  • Extended detection window - Hair tests can detect drug use over a longer period (up to 90 days) compared to other methods like urine or saliva testing.

  • Resistance to adulteration - Hair testing is highly resistant to tampering or manipulation of the sample, making it a reliable method for detecting drug or alcohol use.

  • Monitoring long term drug and alcohol use: Hair testing is useful for tracking long term or chronic drug and alcohol use patterns, providing insights into an individual's drug/alcohol habits over an extended period.

  • Reliability in safety critical environments - Hair testing is commonly used in workplaces, family law proceedings, and other safety-critical environments where reliable compliance is crucial.

 

Limitations

​

While hair follicle drug/alcohol testing has its benefits, it's essential to acknowledge its limitations:

​

  • Inability to detect recent drug use - Hair tests may not detect recent drug use within the last week or so, as it takes around 10 - 14 days for drugs to show up in the hair follicle.

  • Limited detection of infrequent drug use - Hair testing may not be sensitive enough to detect sporadic or occasional drug use, especially if the drug concentrations are low or if the hair sample is short.

  • Invasive collection process - While hair collection is generally non-invasive, it still requires the removal of a hair sample, which some individuals may find uncomfortable or objectionable.

 

Overall, hair drug and alcohol testing is a valuable tool for detecting and monitoring drug/alcohol use, particularly in situations where a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug/alcohol history is necessary. However, it's crucial to consider its limitations and potential applications.

 

Turn around time for results is usually 2 weeks.

bottom of page