Blog
UK Immigration Rules on Family Settlement
Immigration rules can be confusing, technical, written in ‘legalese’ and can be easily misinterpreted, especially when English is not your first language. There are restrictions based on what country an applicant is coming from and the rules can vary between temporary visitors, long-term visitors,... Read More
How Long Does a Court-Ordered DNA Test Take?
When the question of paternity arises, it’s often as a means of finding out who is biologically responsible for financially supporting a child. It’s an emotional and stressful time for all involved, especially when there’s an ongoing dispute. To find out who the father definitely is (or isn’t), a... Read More
Can a Paternity Test be Wrong?
The outcome for a families future can often rest on the results of DNA tests. Whilst you may or may not have ever been involved in the paternity testing process, it can often induce a great deal of emotion, anxiety, and fear for those who are. The outcomes have such important consequences that the... Read More
Brexit & The Family Reunification Process
The uncertainty of Brexit and the impact it will have on the UK’s residents and businesses remains as uncertain today as it was a year ago. The UK media and the government's reports to the UK and the rest of the world’s populous continues to provide little clarity or reassurance as to what life... Read More
SoHT Alcohol Consensus - The use of alcohol markers in hair
Following the 2019 International Congress of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) in Lille, a revised adaptation to the general consensus on alcohol testing has been formulated by a committee of experts to support the assessments drawn when conducting hair analysis of abstinence and chronic excessive... Read More
A day in the life of a DNA Legal Client Manager - Immigration
Hi, My name is Terry Botting and I work for DNA Legal, based in the South West of the UK. I am a Client Manager and help hundreds of people every year with family reunification. The majority of the cases I complete are to support Home Office UK Visa applications, but I also work with clients... Read More
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) - The Superior Direct Alcohol Biomarker
Blog by Salah Breidi - Head of Forensic Toxicology There are some difficulties when testing alcohol in blood to determine if alcohol had been abused. Due to these challenges in testing alcohol consumption behaviours across society, in the most recent decades, intensive research has been... Read More
The impact of alcohol on your mental and physical health
Many people are able to enjoy drinking alcohol in moderation, but there can be some serious side effects when a person binge drinks or drinks heavily over a long period of time. There are short and long-term effects of alcohol that can negatively impact your physical and mental health. The... Read More
Nearly 60% of adults drink alcohol due to stress
A recent research study by YouGov has revealed that almost 60% of adults in the UK are drinking alcohol in order to cope with the stress of every day life. The main objectives of the research were to provide an overview of adults’ drinking behaviour in the UK, explore the motivations for... Read More
Hair Alcohol Testing: FAQs
What is hair alcohol testing? A hair alcohol test is used to determine if a person has consumed alcohol over a certain period of time. The test works by examining the Etg (Ethyl Glucuronide) and FAEE (Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters) markers in your hair, and is one of the most accurate and established... Read More
Drug & Alcohol Testing in the Workplace: Employee Rights
There are several reasons as to why a company may choose to implement a drug and alcohol testing policy for their employees. The misuse of drugs and alcohol can significantly impact a person’s ability to perform their standard day-to-day activities, leading to reduced productivity, as well as... Read More
How long do drugs and alcohol stay in your system?
The length of time drugs and alcohol can be detected in your system for depends on a range of factors, including the type of test used, how much has been consumed, the strength of the substance, and the frequency of use. There is a range of samples that can be tested for drug and alcohol misuse... Read More