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***SPONSORED CONTENT***
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the application and benefits of repeat drug and alcohol testing in the Family Court.
Drug and alcohol testing are critical tools in Family Court, particularly where concerns exist around parental substance misuse.
While a single test may confirm either historical or recent use, depending on the type of test taken, it offers only a limited view of behaviour. By contrast, repeat testing enables the court to monitor patterns over time, assess compliance with court orders, and identify relapse or recovery.
Repeat testing is especially valuable when contact or custody arrangements are under review, as it offers a clearer, more consistent evidential picture to support decisions that prioritise child welfare.
Repeat testing in practice
Repeat drug and alcohol testing is increasingly used to identify patterns of behaviour and support safeguarding assessments, and is typically requested where:
Crucially, repeat testing can also support rehabilitation, allowing parents in recovery to demonstrate sustained change and rebuild trust with professionals and family members.
Testing methods
The choice of testing method depends on the required timeframe, the substances being tested for, and practical considerations. However, a combination of both wide-window and narrow-window tests often provides the most comprehensive insight.
Detects drug and/or alcohol use up to 12 months. Segmenting head hair into 1cm sections also allows for month-by-month analysis.
Provides a similar window of detection as hair (up to 6 months for fingernails, and up to 12 months for toenails) and is ideal where hair is unavailable.
Detects drug use up to four days and is suited to frequent monitoring or abstinence verification.
Detects very recent use (up to 48 hours) and is useful for real-time testing during supervised contact or pre-proceedings.
The gold standard for alcohol monitoring. As a direct biomarker of consumption, it can detect even moderate drinking. With a detection window of up to 4 weeks, PEth testing (including finger prick PEth testing) is ideal for ongoing monitoring.
Provides immediate results and is often used to confirm sobriety before contact sessions.
Benefits for legal professionals and the court
Repeat testing offers several key benefits for professionals tasked with making safeguarding decisions:
When used effectively, repeat testing is more than a monitoring tool; it supports robust, evidence-led decision-making in the best interests of the child.
Building the full picture
AlphaBiolabs is a UKAS 17025 and Lab 51-accredited laboratory with over 20 years’ experience supporting family law professionals, social workers and local authorities.
We provide legally-admissible drug and alcohol testing using a range of sample types, including hair, nails, blood, oral fluid, urine, and breath, with bespoke repeat testing schedules available.
To request a quote, contact our New Enquiry team on 0333 600 1300 / testing@alphabiolabs.com or complete our online quote form at alphabiolabs.co.uk/legal-test-forms/.
To learn more about the benefits of repeat drug and alcohol testing, register for one of our FREE webinars on Tuesday 4 November at 12pm or Thursday 6 November at 9am, where our experts will explore drug and alcohol testing in practice and answer your questions live.
