LONDON, October 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The role that hair alcohol testing plays in the UK legal system is being discussed in a webcast organised by Trimega Laboratories and chaired by a leading child law expert, Alex Verdan QC.

The live webcast, which takes place from 6-7pm on Thursday 21st October, aims to explore and analyse the issues surrounding the application of testing for alcohol misuse using hair. The panel* of experts present will also include the family law barristers George Butler and Jacqui Gilliatt, solicitor Lorna Cservenka and Professor Dr Fritz Pragst, a world-renowned forensic toxicologist and responsible for many techniques used in hair alcohol testing.

Topics for discussion include the reliability of test results as evidence of alcohol misuse or abstention and where these results fit in the courtroom, mainly in child care orders where hair tests are requested from parents in about a third of all cases. The panel will also consider the importance of the consensus reached by the international 'Society of Hair Testing' regarding the most accurate techniques available and implications this has on future cases.

The consensus recognises, for example, that the propensity to test accurately is greatly enhanced by new technology that combines the two most commonly accepted methods of testing: EtG (ethyl glucuronide) and FAEE (fatty acid ethyl esters).

According to Professor Pragst, who has pioneered this new technology: Used in isolation, EtG or FAEE in hair can lead to false negative or false positive results but, by combining the two types of testing together, the accuracy of results increases to a high extent. Such is the significance of this to the legal community, particularly those practicing family law, that we felt a webcast with some of the key figures would be an excellent way of getting the message across.

Access to the webcast is free of charge but anyone interested in taking part must first register at http://www.trimegalabs.co.uk/savethedate.

* PANEL: - Alex Verdan QC - 4PB - George Butler, Barrister, 4 Brick Court Chambers - Jacqui Gilliatt, Barrister, 4 Brick Court Chambers - Lorna Cservenka, Partner, HCL Hanne Co - Professor Dr Fritz Pragst, University of Berlin Full biographies at http://www.trimegalabs.co.uk/savethedate.

SOURCE: Trimega Laboratories

CONTACT: Further information: Nick Heath (Ink PR) +44(0)20-7654-0730 /+44(0)7720-297972 / nick@inkpr.com