When should hair strand testing be used?
Much depends on what it is that is sought to be established. If the issue is whether or not a parent has consumed alcohol at a frequent and excessive rate over a period of time (at least 3 months) then hair strand testing will still be useful evidence, as will blood (Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin and / or liver function) tests. If the issue is whether or not an individual is still consuming alcohol, albeit at levels that are not frequent and excessive, then random urine, swab or breathalyser tests may be of greater assistance. Clinical observation is acknowledged to be an important part of the evidential picture in any event. Mr Justice Moylan described the decision of the Local Authority in the case to test by way of urine samples in the future as being “sensible”. Although noting that such tests have their own inherent limitations, due to the length of time that ethanol remains in the blood or urine, he states that they ‘form a more secure factual foundation’ to demonstrate that
