My ex has passed a hair strand test for alcohol as a tee total. This is not possible as she is a heavy weekend binge drinker. As she uses heated hair straighteners every day at least once, Would this affect the test results?

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Originally Posted by worried father

My ex has passed a hair strand test for alcohol as a tee total. This is not possible as she is a heavy weekend binge drinker. As she uses heated hair straighteners every day at least once, Would this affect the test results?

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No, or everyone would use heated hair straighteners.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by worried father

My ex has passed a hair strand test for alcohol as a tee total. This is not possible as she is a heavy weekend binge drinker. As she uses heated hair straighteners every day at least once, Would this affect the test results?

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The test isn't for alcohol, which can't be detected in hair, rather for a combination of EtG and FAEEs supposed biomarkers for ethanol. Whether heat only has a direct influence hasn't been tested to the best of my knowledge but water, and particularly hot water, will remove EtG quite effectively. In fact the extraction method used at the lab is water... How is that for a high priced test.

"One reason for a negative EtG result after heavy alcohol consumption may be the cosmetic treatment of hair, as bleaching decreases EtG concentration in hair by 78%. Since ethanol is efficiently extracted from hair by incubation with water, it may be washed out by frequent shampooing or hot shower, particularly from hair with cuticle damaged by dyeing, bleaching, or permanent wave." (p. 309, Kintz)

Even “normal hair hygiene might wash out EtG from the hair.” yet another study confirmed. (Tsanaclis, et al)

Who came up with the idea of hair testing for alcohol use? Very poor choice.

In a regular heavy drinker there are many tests to establish consumption and hair alcohol testing isn't one of them.