Hair Strand Drug Testing

Hair strand/hair follicle drug testing can be used for a variety of reasons, from helping authorities make crucial decisions about a child’s welfare, to family courts handling custody disputes.

The main advantage of hair stand drug testing is that it can provide insight into drug use over an extended period. This is known as a ‘wide-window’ of detection (up to 12 months) and is due to the way in which drugs and their metabolites are retained in the hair shaft.

Other advantages include:

• Historical data – obtain an overview of drug use over a defined period, or use segmented analysis (head hair) to identify trends in historic drug use
• Detect a wide variety of drugs and their metabolites
• Determine habitual or chronic substance misuse
• Non-invasive sample collection
• Samples are difficult to manipulate or tamper with

Our hair strand/hair follicle drug testing is accurate and reliable based on the samples we receive at our laboratory.

We are accredited by UKAS to the quality technical standard of ISO 17025 (No. 2773) and certified to ISO 9001.

We follow cut-off guidelines for hair strand drug testing as set by the Society of Hair Testing, and our toxicologists also work within the framework of Family Law, following Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules (2010).

Depending on the length/amount of hair available and when the drugs were consumed, it is possible for drugs to remain detectable in a cut hair sample (head hair or body hair) for up to 12 months.

The amount of hair required for a hair strand drug test depends on the type of analysis requested (segmented or overview), the time period tested for, and the sample type available.

For example, when testing head hair, a longer section of hair will be required for a 12-month analysis compared to a 3-month analysis.

Around 200 strands of head hair are cut from the root, as close to the scalp as possible. The sample collector will assess the most suitable and discreet sample site based on the testing requirements and will always discuss this with the sample donor first. The number of head hair samples required is determined by the type of test that has been instructed.

Body hair is collected by weight rather than the length of the hair strand and cannot be segmented because of the variable rate of growth.

A drug test with body hair can be used to provide an overview of drug use up to 12 months.

If head hair is not available, body hair can be used as a sample.

This can be collected from the face, leg, arm, chest, back or underarm.

Whereas head hair can be segmented to provide month-by-month profiles for drug use, body hair cannot be segmented because of the variable rate of growth. For this reason, body hair can only be used to provide a drug use overview of up to 12 months. Body hair is also collected by weight, rather than the length of the head hair strand.

This depends on the sample type available and what period of analysis you require.

• Segmented analysis can only be performed using head hair and is the most detailed and comprehensive form of hair strand/hair follicle drug testing, allowing for month-by-month segmentation of the hair (1cm sections).

  This type of analysis is useful if you need to identify a trend in drug use, such as an increase or decrease over time, or to highlight intermittent use.

  Segmented analysis can be used to identify patterns in drug use for up to 12 months.

• Overview analysis can be performed on head hair and body hair and provides a more general insight into a person’s drug use.

  With overview analysis, it is not possible to specify in which month the drugs are likely to have been consumed. Instead, periods of drug use are averaged out over the period being tested.

  Head hair or body hair can provide an overview of drug use up to 12 months.

The results of a hair strand/hair follicle drug test will show whether one or more drugs were detected in an individual’s sample during a defined period, depending on the sample type and method of analysis used (e.g. head hair or body hair/segmented or overview analysis).

The amount of each substance detected is reported either above or below established cut-off levels, as set by the Society of Hair Testing.

We also offer a FREE Drug Screen Plus Service for court-approved hair strand drug tests that will tell you if any additional substances were present, even if you did not specifically ask us to test for them.

A hair strand drug test – also known as a hair follicle drug test – provides a ‘wide-window’ form of detection for drug use (up to 12 months). This is due to the way in which drugs are retained in the hair after they have been consumed.

These tests are designed to detect historic regular or repeated drug use. Therefore, one-time drug use may not result in a sufficient concentration of drugs and drug metabolites within the hair to be detected by a hair drug test.

Other types of tests, such as urine drug tests and oral fluid drug tests, offer what is known as a narrow-window form of detection, and are more suitable for detecting single incidents of drug use.

A hair strand drug test does not detect alcohol, as it is designed to identify the use of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines etc.

However, alcohol consumption can be assessed via a specific hair alcohol test.

The test works by analysing a cut hair sample for the presence of Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Ethyl Palmitate (EtPa/FAEE), both of which are biomarkers of alcohol.

AlphaBiolabs provides a wide range of court-admissible alcohol tests for chronic and excessive use or abstinence, including hair and nail alcohol tests, blood alcohol tests, breath alcohol tests, and SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring®.

To request a quote for a legal alcohol test, contact our New Enquiry team on 0333 600 1300 / testing@alphabiolabs.com.

The cost of a court-admissible hair strand/hair follicle drug test varies depending on the requirements of the instructing party.

If you have received a quote for hair strand drug testing from another testing laboratory, we will match their price and reduce it by a further 10%. This makes AlphaBiolabs the most cost-effective solution for your legal drug testing needs.

To request a quote for hair strand drug testing, simply complete our online form, and a member of our New Enquiry team will be in touch to discuss your needs.

You can also call 0333 600 1300 or email testing@alphabiolabs.com for more information.

We offer rapid results for court-approved hair strand drug testing, direct from our UKAS-accredited laboratory.

For more information, complete our online quote form, and a member of our New Enquiry team will be in touch to discuss your requirements.

Alternatively, call us on 0333 600 1300 or email testing@alphabiolabs.com.

We are committed to delivering scientifically robust and transparent test results, ensuring that legal professionals, social workers and local authorities can rely on them with complete confidence.

Our reports provide context and expert interpretation, ensuring that results are not taken at face value but considered holistically.

Our court-admissible hair strand drug test reports include:

• Sample donor information – including photo ID, and details of any disclosures made at the time of the sample collection (e.g. prescribed medications, drug/alcohol usage, environmental exposure to illicit drugs/close body contact with a drug user).
• Substances found and detected levels – which drugs have been detected, along with their concentration levels, measured in nanograms per milligram (ng/mg) or picograms per milligram (pg/mg) of hair (analyte dependent).
• Comparison with internationally-recognised cut-off levels – to ensure accuracy, the levels of substances detected are compared against scientifically validated thresholds. These cut-off levels play a fundamental role in helping to distinguish between actual drug use and potential external contamination.
  At AlphaBiolabs, we follow internationally-recognised cut-off guidelines set by the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT), which bases its recommendations on extensive research across a diverse range of populations.
• Interpretation of the test results, including relevant caveats and considerations – our reports include expert analysis, considering factors such as possible external exposure to illicit substances, sample donor declarations, the presence of metabolites (which indicate active drug use), pattern assessments of active and previous drug use, and consideration of the natural variations in hair drug incorporation and rates of hair growth.
• Segmented analysis – if requested, hair samples can be segmented to provide an insight into a pattern of drug use over time, rather than a single result for the entire period (overview analysis).
• Contextual considerations – factors such as hair treatments, hair colour, sample donor declarations (such as prescribed medications/declared substance use) and the donor’s ethnicity are all carefully considered, to ensure a fair and accurate interpretation.

Cut-off levels play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and fairness of hair strand/hair follicle drug testing. Without cut-off levels, even trace amounts of substances could be reported, potentially resulting from passive exposure to drugs rather than active drug use.

One example of such a scenario is the ‘cocaine kiss’.

Cocaine can dissolve in saliva and be absorbed through the soft tissues in the mouth. This means that even a small amount of cocaine has the potential to be transferred to a non-cocaine user, through kissing.

Due to the sensitivity of modern-day drug testing, this can result in the person testing positive for cocaine even if they did not actively use the drug themselves.

At AlphaBiolabs, we follow internationally-recognised cut-off guidelines set by the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT), which bases its recommendations on extensive research across a diverse range of populations.

These scientifically established thresholds are:

• based on data from thousands of cases, covering a wide range of sample donors.
• reviewed regularly to reflect advancements in drug testing technology
• designed to distinguish between actual drug use and incidental environmental exposure, preventing misleading conclusions

Our reports are not just data-driven but include expert analysis to help clients understand the significance of the results. Where results are close to the cut-off level, we provide additional insights to prevent misinterpretation.

The results of a hair strand/hair follicle drug test should never be interpreted in isolation. Several factors can influence how drugs are incorporated into the hair, meaning expert analysis is essential to ensure a fair and accurate assessment.

Factors that AlphaBiolabs’ Reporting Scientists will always consider when reporting hair strand drug test results, include: 

• Hair type and colour – Studies have shown that melanin levels in hair can impact drug incorporation, meaning darker hair may sometimes retain higher concentrations of certain substances. This is partly the reason why it is not possible to precisely state the frequency of consumption, or the specific quantities of drugs consumed.
• Cosmetic treatments – It is well documented that chemical treatments such as excessive bleaching, dyeing, perming or straightening have the potential to affect drug retention in hair strands
• External contamination – environmental exposure to drugs (e.g. through smoke or physical contact) does not necessarily indicate use. Our reports consider the presence of metabolites – byproducts produced by the body after drug use – to help distinguish between active consumption and contamination. We also ensure the hair being tested is thoroughly washed first to ensure any surface contaminants are removed/minimised
• Biochemical properties of drugs – different drugs bind to hair at different rates, meaning some substances are more likely to be retained than others. This variation is considered when interpreting results.
• Variable growth rates of hair – Hair typically grows at an average rate of approximately 1 cm per month, as referenced by the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT). However, this rate can vary between individuals due to factors such as age, genetics, medical conditions, and ethnicity, potentially affecting the approximate time period represented by each hair segment

In summary, a hair drug test provides a scientifically backed assessment of drug use over time, but it should always be evaluated alongside other evidence.