EtG hair follicle test is an analysis in which a sample of an individual’s hair is sent to a certified testing laboratory to detect illicit drug and alcohol use. After extensive research, experts prove that drugs and alcohol detected on the hair can be accurately measured. Hair is stable, and the substances used or ingested are permanently ingrained in the hair, so hair testing can determine drug and alcohol use over time. However, if you seek an alternative for alcohol testing, using breathalysers like the BACtrack from Breathalysers New Zealand is an excellent option. Breathalysers can provide instant Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) readings and determine if an individual is intoxicated. Breathalysers NZ offers an extensive selection of personal and workplace breathalysers perfect for different alcohol testing needs and situations. 

Uses of Alcohol EtG Testing

In particular, EtG is the standard method for court-ordered alcohol testing. Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of alcohol (ethanol). Detecting EtG is possible with urine testing for recent alcohol consumption. The presence of EtG in urine indicates that alcohol is consumed. In addition, EtG tests are typically used for individuals on court-ordered probation, child custody affairs and an individual in a substance abuse rehabilitation program. 

EtG hair follicle test and EtG urine testing are effective tools in monitoring abstinence. Identifying alcohol problems or relapses for legal purposes such as criminal justice or child welfare is essential to help assure reliable and efficient treatment and protect people at risk. For instance, individuals with a court order take an EtG urine test to check if they have consumed alcohol. In addition, company management test employees to determine if they are consuming alcohol during working hours. Breathalysers are practical tools if you seek alcohol testing devices for onsite workplace testing. The BACtrack breathalysers can provide a highly accurate BAC reading within 10-15 seconds. 

What Can EtG Hair Follicle Test Detect?

EtG hair test analyses drugs and alcohol compounds within the hair follicle. The primary difference between an EtG hair follicle test and a urine or saliva test is that there is a bigger detection window with hair samples. Hair testing is usually conducted as an alternative to urine testing because urine testing cannot detect certain substances after 72 hours of use. Moreover, hair testing can detect drugs and alcohol for months after use, ensuring that test results are highly accurate. However, if you are looking for an alternative testing method, you may want to consider using breath testing. Breathalysers NZ supplies reliable and highly accurate BACtrack breathalysers. Using hair sampling for drug and alcohol testing detects the following substances:

• cocaine
• methamphetamine
• cannabis
• opiates
• PCP
• ethanol

How Does an EtG Hair Follicle Test Work?

Conducting an EtG hair follicle test requires the smallest sample within the testing industry, snipping the hair above the scalp. This testing method is a completely painless and quick procedure for gathering samples. In addition, the detection window of hair testing has an extended period compared to other testing methods. A standard hair test requires a 3.8cm length of a hair sample. This hair sample length equals at least three months of window detection. Additionally, hair on the head grows approximately at a rate of 1.2cm per month. 

On the other hand, different testing methods have minimal detection windows. Therefore, conducting an EtG hair follicle test is essential for those monitoring drug and alcohol use for extended periods. However, if you only need alcohol testing for the workplace, using breathalysers like BACtrack devices is a practical option. Breathalysers can determine the current intoxication levels of an individual. Alcohol testing in the workplace is essential to companies as it ensures workplace health and safety. In addition, identifying employees who have alcohol use problems can significantly reduce alcohol-related workplace accidents.

Why Conduct an EtG Hair Follicle Test

How does an EtG hair follicle test compare to EtG urine testing? The main difference is the extended detection window with hair sampling. In addition, hair testing has advantages. For example, hair testing is non-invasive, substitution and sample adulteration are less likely, and there is greater testing accuracy. Therefore, hair testing is more effective than urine testing.  However, you may want to consider using breath testing for instant test results. Using BACtrack workplaces devices like the S80 Pro Gen 2 from Breathalysers NZ can produce accurate test results within 10 – 15 seconds.

EtG hair follicle testing for drugs and alcohol use is standard for institutions monitoring substance use. In addition, the accuracy and convenience of the testing method are essential in pre-employment testing to help determine if a job applicant has substance abuse issues. Hair follicle drug testing are also used for:

• Court Ordered Testing
• Child Custody and Protection Testing
• Confirmatory Testing

Workplace Testing

Most companies opt to make and implement workplace testing policies to ensure workplace safety. As a business, you want to protect the company from legal liabilities through the drug and alcohol testing program. For example, an EtG hair follicle test takes an extended processing time and costs more. Moreover, with various testing methods available, companies only opt to avail testing services for confirmation tests. Therefore, companies use breathalysers and other convenient drug testing kits to give quick and accurate results.

Drug and Alcohol Policy in the Workplace: Breath Testing

Companies implementing a workplace drug and alcohol policy use various testing methods to identify employees with substance abuse problems. Therefore, they employ an EtG hair follicle test as confirmatory testing when initial results are positive. On the other hand, alcohol testing using breathalysers like the BACtrack from Breathalysers NZ can help determine an individual’s current intoxication levels. Alcohol breath tests are quick and non-invasive method for detecting alcohol. A breathalyser can detect alcohol in the system for up to 24 hours. The BACtrack’s workplace breathalysers can quickly and accurately measure BAC levels through its advanced fuel cell sensors.

Companies with workplace testing use professional-grade breathalysers. The BACtrack workplace breathalysers from Breathalysers NZ utilise advanced fuel cell sensors to give accurate BAC results. These fuel cell breathalysers only detect ethanol and no other substances, which makes them less likely to produce false positives. Moreover, alcohol breath testers offer a more convenient and cost-effective way for workplace alcohol testing than an EtG hair follicle test. 

Conclusion

Workplace drug and alcohol abuse is one of the main issues for most businesses. Most companies implement a workplace drug and alcohol testing policy to ensure safety. In addition, these companies use pro-grade breathalysers like the BACtrack from Breathalysers NZ to conduct workplace alcohol testing. Using breathalysers for preliminary testing is convenient and helps companies save time and costs. Companies would only need to hire or avail of testing services like an EtG hair follicle test as a confirmatory test. Therefore, companies benefit from using a BACtrack’s pro-grade workplace breathalyser like the BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 to ensure workplace health and safety. The BACtrack professional breathalysers are a valuable and worthy investment if you want to improve workplace security. You can view and purchase the ideal alcohol testing device on the Breathalysers New Zealand website.