Breath Alcohol Testing Procedure

Breath Alcohol Testing Procedures

Workplace Testing Solutions

breath alcohol testing procedure

Breath alcohol is the most commonly used practice for occupational alcohol testing. Breath alcohol meters measure the amount of alcohol present in the breath to accurately estimate blood alcohol concentration using an established ratio of how much alcohol the lungs absorb from the blood.

 

For non-DOT breath alcohol testing Canadian Model Version 6.0

The Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace (the Canadian Model) is a Best Practice Alcohol and Drug Policy that stakeholders in the Canadian construction, maintenance and oil and gas industries can adopt and follow. The purpose of the Canadian Model is to ensure a safe workplace for all workers by reducing the risks associated with the inappropriate use of alcohol and drugs. This sixth version, issued on July 1, 2018, is issued jointly by COAA and Energy Safety Canada.  Page 19 for Alcohol Testing.

Article:  Canadian Model – Providing a Safe Workplace – Best Practices for Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace

 

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Direct Alcohol Biomarker Testing in Dried Blood Spots

blood testing for drugs and alcohol

TESTING PEth

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct alcohol biomarker.  Peth in blood exists as a component of the red blood cell membrane and is an alcohol-specific biomarker, meaning that it is created only in the presence of ethanol.  Significant PEth levels can be detected up to approximately 2-4 weeks after alcohol ingestion.  The stability of PEth in dried blood spots makes it ideal for forensic testing and research purposes.  Our PEth assay uses state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS instrumentation.

Benefits of Using Dried Blood Spots

Detectable up to approximately 2-4 weeks

  • Universal Specimen
  • No Notice Needed: Always available
  • Non-invasive: Collection can be done anywhere
  • Observed Collection: Specimen collection is performed by the donor
  • Specimen Stability: Card binds blood cells preventing changes in PEth levels

No Dry Time

1. Puncture

2. Collect

3. Ship

Dried blood spot collection is performed by the individual being tested (the donor) and must be observed by a staff member, after a short training session.  Specimen amount is 5 dried blood spots on the dried blood spot card when collecting from a finger or 5 milliliters of blood, if using standard venipuncture collection with anticoagulant.  Results are available 2-4 days after the sample is received in the laboratory.

Dried blood spot collection is quickly becoming the fastest, most convenient way to test for PEth.

Our services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  For forensic use only.

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Fingernail Testing

fingernail testing for drugs and alcohol

What do professionals who use fingernail testing for drugs and alcohol know that you don't?

Some of the most frequently asked questions are related to the types of tests and what they are used for.  

Fingernail, made of keratin like hair, is emerging as a popular specimen type for drug and alcohol testing.  It is simple to collect, easy to ship and store, and is at the cutting edge of drug and alcohol testing.  

Drug and alcohol biomarkers are trapped in the fingernail by three main routes:

1) Blood flow in the germinal matrix deposits drug and alcohol biomarkers into the nail when it is formed.

2) Blood flow in the nail bed deposits drug and alcohol biomarkers in the nail as it thickens.

3) Sweat and oil of the skin surrounding the nail deposits drug and alcohol biomarkers into the nail.

These three very different routes of incorporation are superimposed on top of each other rendering a very complex drug history picture.

1:1 Nail and hair samples capture the same drugs

fingernail testing for drugs and alcohol

Non-intrusive, donor collected sample. Fingernails are collected by the donor in front of a trained staff member.

no appearance changes


Minimal impact on the donors appearance.

positive result for drug or alcohol testing

All samples are screened on state -of-the-art instruments, and positives are confirmed on GC/LC MS before reported out.

Window of Detection & Collection

Nails provide up to 6 months of drug use history and up to 3 months of alcohol history. Biomarkers are detectable in nail as early as one week after drug or alcohol use.  The window of detection for drug or alcohol ingestion depends on the substance used, the amount used, and personal metabolism.  Just like hair and urine, a negative result is not proof of abstinence, just the lack of evidence. 

A 2-3 mm clipping, about the thickness of a quarter, from the end of each fingernail provides the optimal sample. Not enough fingernail?  Wait 1-2 weeks.  What is positive today will still be positive in 2 weeks.  Never mix fingernails and toenails in the same sample. 

How nails grow is important for biomarker testing

The nail originates in the germinal matrix and grows outward toward the fingertip.  The hardened material forming the nail plate grows across the nail bed, which is rich in capillary blood flow.  As the nail grows in length, material is added from underneath such that the nail lengthens and thickens, as it grows outward towards the fingertip.  The portion of the nail extending past the fingertip is called the free edge, the piece that you clip when clipping your nails.  The entire process takes up to 6 months depending on the health of the individual.  

Drug and alcohol biomarkers are trapped in the keratin fibers of the fingernail

Hair is also made of keratin fibers, but biomarkers may be washed out of hair by common cosmetic treatments such as bleaches, dyes, permanents and straighteners, reducing or eliminating the presence of the detectable substances.  This problem does not exist when testing nails. 

Nail keratin is 4x thicker than hair

Nail often captures more of a biomarker than hair.  

As nail grows in thickness and length, biomarkers build up in the nail at the germinal matrix and along the nail bed, collecting the full history of drug use.  

Our services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  For forensic use only.

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Frequently Asked Questions

swab testing for drugs and alcohol

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Some of the most frequently asked questions are related to the types of tests and what they are used for.  

1. Urine Drug Testing

Urine test for drug testing

Urine drug testing is most commonly performed for occupational purposes (i.e. pre-employment or pre-access) but can be used for personal testing reasons.  The two types of urine testing are POCT/express or lab-based testing.  POCT/express testing is performed in the collection facility and will yield either a negative or non-negative result (non-negative results are sent to lab for confirmation testing); negative results will be provided same day.  Lab testing is performed at a certified laboratory and the timeframe for results is typically 2-5 business days.  We have multiple drug panels (7 panel – 14 panel drug tests) to meet your needs.

2. Oral Swab Drug Testing

commodore alcohol testing

Oral swab drug testing is becoming more common in occupational testing for determining whether a person as used a substance recently and could potentially be impaired.  The two types of oral swab testing are POCT/express or lab-based testing.  POCT/express testing is performed in a collection facility and will yield either a negative or non-negative result (non-negative results are sent to the lab for confirmation testing); negative results will be provided same day.  Lab testing is performed at a certified laboratory and the timeframe for results is 2-5 business days.

3. Dot Testing

Urine test for drug testing

There are some donors who cross the border to work in the United States (i.e. truck drivers) and require testing that complies with the US DOT regulations.  The preferred government issued photo ID (especially for drivers) is a valid driver’s license.  US DOT Rule 49 CFR Part 40 Section 40.81 mandates lab-based testing which is performed at a certified laboratory and timeframe for results is 2-5 business days.  Breath alcohol testing may also be required so a donor would want to avoid consuming alcohol for 24 hours prior to the test. 

4. Hair/Nail Drug Testing

hair and nail testing

There are situations when more historical data is required to determine substance use/abuse.  Generally court ordered in familial disputes where children are involved, but can occasionally be requested for personal or occupational purposes.  Hair needs to be 1.5 inches in length and free from all chemical treatments (including colour) and nails should be natural (free from any coatings) and be at least the width of a quarter.  Specimens are collected in our facility and shipped to a certified laboratory and results take anywhere from 1-2 weeks. 

Our services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  For forensic use only.

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