[protectingthech]

Hello,

I am trying to protect my children who were transported by their father while drunk. He had hair strand tests and they came back negative for ETG and positive for FAEE.

"The sum concentration of FAEEs in the hair was 1.755 nanograms per millimetre of hair. This concentration is greater than the concentration proposed by the Society Of Hair Testing to suggest "chronic excessive alcohol consumption".

EtG was not detected in the sample produced from Mr XXXXXX.

The results are consistent with the use of alcohol; however when considering the results of the EtG and FAEE in combination; it is not possible to determine if these results are suggestive of chronic excessive alcohol consumption.

The use of shampoos and cosmetic products can reduce the amount of EtG present in the hair."

Please can you tell me if Mr XXXXX is going to wriggle out of this? I am suspicious that he cut down his drinking in one or two weeks leading up to the tests - and that he has washed his hair repeatedly and taken steps to strip the EtG that would have been present.

Please advise...

[DrBill100]

SOHT states

15. Either EtG or FAEE can be used independently for chronic excessive alcohol consumption assessment. For mutual confirmation and for exclusion of false positive or false negative results the determination of both parameters can be useful, in some special cases.

See Society of Hair Testing, Consensus Statement, 2011

However, there is a new Consensus Statement to be voted on in June 2012 which states that it is EtG that should be given priority and that the two should not be used in isolation.

See Proposed Consensus Statement, SOHT, 2012

Certainly EtG is influenced by normal hygiene, and is incorporated into hair erratically. There are more effective, accurate and less expensive tests available particularly when attempting to demonstrate chronic excessive drinking.

[protectingthech]

Oh. I had read that FAEE results were more dependable than EtA results as the washout could not be utilised. That looks as if EtA will take precedence. I have seen him so drunk that he is clinging to furniture having transported the children.

Do you think we could have the FAEE results take precedence or has he managed to walk it?

[protectingthech]

SOHT states

15. Either EtG or FAEE can be used independently for chronic excessive alcohol consumption assessment. For mutual confirmation and for exclusion of false positive or false negative results the determination of both parameters can be useful, in some special cases.

See Society of Hair Testing, Consensus Statement, 2011

However, there is a new Consensus Statement to be voted on in June 2012 which states that it is EtG that should be given priority and that the two should not be used in isolation.

See Proposed Consensus Statement, SOHT, 2012

Certainly EtG is influenced by normal hygiene, and is incorporated into hair erratically. There are more effective, accurate and less expensive tests available particularly when attempting to demonstrate chronic excessive drinking.

Please do you know if it would be possible to have someone shown to be chronic with a positive FAEE and "no EtG detected in the hair''? Is it possible for there to be FAEE at those levels and no EtG? Is it possible that the hair was washed or stripped? They do not use hair products.

[protectingthech]

Please help me Dr Bill, is it possible he used one of the shampoos that strip the hair? How can science explain that there was no EtG but 1.75 FAEE?

[DrBill100]

EtG hair testing is a relatively new procedure in the US. How it will be interpreted is likely to depend on the extent that the lab director can explain it.

Your best resource for information is the lab that performed the test.

It is my opinion that any test that relies on EtG is fundamentally flawed. I recommend against use. He would not have had to use a special shampoo. Hot water will extract EtG.

As example, under the circumstances you describe, a more appropriate test would have been for phosphatidylethanol (PEth). A blood test with proven capability to detect heavy drinking and easily explained and defended.

Once again, I would be in touch with the lab. It is their job to fully explain the test and the procedures they used.

[nigel_352]

Can the regular use of hair gel containing alcohol give a false positive for excessive alcohol consumption with the hair strand test?

[DrBill100]

Can the regular use of hair gel containing alcohol give a false positive for excessive alcohol consumption with the hair strand test?

Yes it can. Here is a 2011 study that deals with that issue. Sporkert, et al

[nigel_3522]

Thanks. I drink approx 3 to 4 beers in a weekend and so do not believe that I am an excessive consumer. I have to do a hair strand test in 2 days as part of a custody battle for my child, my ex is saying that I drink too much! What chance do I have in passing this test as I have always used hair gel containing alcohol? Thanks again

[DrBill100]

It would be my suggestion to cancel the hair test and mutually agree to a blood test, PEth.

I couldn't tell you the possibility of passing the HEtG. It is erratic and subject to variant interpretation.

Are you in the US or UK?