Hair Testing

ScreenSafe UK is an established company with a proven track record in Drugs Testing and Alcohol testing. Our Hair testing laboratory has been testing for drugs of abuse for over 27 years and is the pioneer of modern techniques. Hair testing is unique in its ability to look back months rather than days at drug (or substance) use, making it essential in child residence, child protection, protection orders, family, forensic and criminal cases. By providing information on exposure to drugs (substances) over time, hair analysis can be useful in verifying self-reported histories of drug (substance) use in any situation in which a past history of drug (substance) use is desired. During controlled tests of hair, a drug (substance) user is not able to hide the fact that they abuse drugs (substances). Once ingested, the substance(s) remains in the hair as a permanent record. All our testing methods have been validated and published in peer review journals (available on the internet). Our laboratory services, which was founded by President of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists and key members of the Society of Hair Testing, has published over 300 articles on this topic.

We were the first company to offer Alcohol detection in hair in the UK and have been doing so worldwide for nearly a decade now. The pioneering techniques employed by the Laboratory team mean that we are often 3 to 4 years ahead of any other UK provider. We use quality control techniques that are often not employed by others. This may cost a little more, but it means we can confidently stand by our results in any court of law and vastly minimize areas open to challenge. We are regularly asked to provide legal challenge to other supplier's results/reports. This we do very successfully due to our superior expertise and technical knowledge.

Drugs (substances) in the bloodstream get trapped in the hair shaft as it grows in the root follicle. Since hair is inert protein, the drugs remain trapped there until the hair is cut. After about 7 days after drug use, the hair has grown enough to be cropped close to the scalp, providing the perfect history of drug abuse. On average, hair grows at about 1cm per month, so a 3 cm section gives a three month history of drug (substance) use. We can even section or segment the hair to, say 3 x 1cm to show what has been taken month by month to give a far more detailed and concise report on use. This method can show increase, decrease or even abstinence.

The process has been proven in a court of law many times and therefore has grown in popularity because it provides a complete history of drug (and now alcohol) abuse. Often a donor will attend the interview having just shaved his head. However, we are just as happy to analyse under-arm, body (chest, leg etc) or pubic hair. If totally shaved from head to foot, we can even take nail clippings.

If you use our fully trained collection service, we will advise you at the time of collection what is possible. The donor is required to give a hair sample. This would require a sample of hair to be cut from the crown of the head (where possible), called the vertex posterior. Compared with other areas of the head, this area has less variability in the hair growth rate, the number of hairs in the growing phase is more constant. Underarm, chest or leg hair is also an option if no head hair is available. An A and B sample can be collected if required with the B sample being stored securely for a minimum of 12 months.

The Collection officer will cut a small sample (approximately 150 hairs - the width of a pen barrel) into a collection sheet or foil as per the hair collection kit. (NOTE: accuracy of hair analysis is reliant on the weight of the sample. Some companies state that they only need to take a tiny amount of sample. This is one area where their results are left open to challenge). The root end is placed in the correct position in the sheet or foil. This is then placed into a special envelope, signed by the donor and sealed by the Collection Officer in front of the donor. This is then put into a larger envelope and sealed to complete the Chain of Custody The form is signed and completed and sent to the laboratory with the sample. All samples for that day will be batched by the Collector and couriered to the laboratory accordingly.

At the laboratory, once the booking in process is complete, the main stages are as follows:

  • Decontamination of the hair
  • Preparation of the hair: pulverization, segmentation in short pieces
  • Incubation: in methanol, acid, sodium hydroxide, buffer
  • Extraction: liquid/liquid, solid phase, solid phase micro-extraction
  • Analysis: ELISA, Chromatography (GLC, HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry or tandem mass spectrometry.
  • Issue of results and expert witness / interpretation

The window of detection for hair is quite unique in its ability to look back months and years into drug history. For the purpose of most company's requirements, we analyse a 3cm sample, which will give an average drug use over a 3-month period. However, more detailed analysis can be provided using segmentation.

We guarantee a turnaround time of 10 working days from receipt at the laboratory for hair analysis although this is often improved upon where possible (6-7 working days is regularly achieved on standard analysis) or a Fast-Track service is available.

Alcohol Detection in Hair

Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious social problems throughout the world. Our scientists had focussed their studies over many years to find suitable markers to establish chronic alcohol consumption. Hair analysis has proved its ability in establishing consumption of drugs of abuse over a period of time. Similarly, when we analyse the alcohol markers in hair samples, we can establish alcohol consumption over periods of time, dependent on the length of the hair.

As a pioneering company in this field (we were the first to introduce Alcohol in Hair testing into the UK for legal/medico cases almost 10 years ago) ScreenSafe UK follows guidelines as lay down by the Society of Hair testing - our laboratory services were founded by the current President of the Worldwide Society of Hair Testing. With almost 10 years history of testing for alcohol in hair, our experience is second to none. The Society of Hair Testing recommends that the use of ETG (Ethylglucuronide) as a stable marker of excessive alcohol consumption should use a cut-off value of 30pg/mg of hair. Anything found below this should be reported as a negative as it could be due to low use or possible abstinence. With this cut-off level, we can identify a regular drinker. The forensic definition of a regular drinker is the equivalent of 7.5 units of alcohol per day. A typical 3cm sample of hair will show a history of the past 3 months. We are the only company that offer segmentation to give a month-by-month account of chronic alcohol consumption. Although the SoHT guidelines recommend 0-3cm and 3-6cm sections, we can also provide both reports and expert witness statements on segmented samples for ETG due to our superior experience in expert interpretation of ETG results. This will show either an increase or decrease over time, but these results must be interpreted with full knowledge of limitations. ScreenSafe UK are also the only company that has a unique method that can help indicate total abstinence of 6 months or longer in a subject.

Diagnosis of excessive alcohol consumption is an important task from a medical/legal point of view. Markers of alcohol consumption are ethylglucuronide, and phosphatidylethanol or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). Detection of ethylglucuronide is always associated with alcohol consumption. FAEEs can be present through non-conventional alcohol consumption/exposure (including cosmetics). ScreenSafe UK offer testing for both markers. We only offer our ETG test in isolation (i.e. without FAEE). We will not offer FAEEs in isolation (i.e. without ETG) as we believe FAEE results on their own can be misleading, which in turn will impact on our quality and reputation, which we are not prepared to jeopardize.

We always advise using alcohol in hair testing as part of a complete suite of evidence to enable correct interpretation, judgement and decisions to be made. It should be part of a long term screening exercise that could also include blood (CDT, LFT tests etc), urine and breath sampling - all of which are long standing services that we also provide.

During a High Court hearing before The Hon. Mr Justice Moylan (12/11/2010) the use of hair testing for Alcohol was questioned. In the case referred to, it was the interpretation of results that was at fault and not the analytical methods.

It has always been our belief that quality of results and quality of our expert witness interpretation are vital to our clients, and that we must maintain our high standards to add value to legal and forensic cases.

This is why ScreenSafe UK has never had one of our reports successfully challenged.

Where child placement and safety is concerned, we believe there should be no question of sacrificing quality. Competent interpretation is paramount and a pre-requisite with ScreenSafe UK. What originally appears to be "the cheaper option" may not always be in the best interest of either the client or the state and definitely not the child(ren) involved.

Detection of other substances in Hair

Please note that we can also test other substances including Steroids, Ketamine, Buprenorphine, LSD, GHB, Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Fentanyl, Meperidine, Khat, Psilocine, Phencyclidine and Alcohol (to detect abuse levels). Some of these specialist tests are exclusive to our laboratory. Please contact us on 08450 505590 or email enquiries@screensafeuk.co.uk to discuss any specific requirements you may have. If it can be tested for we will do it! Some of these substances cannot be detected effectively by the normal ELISA screening method and will therefore require direct chromatographic methods of analysis to give a legally defensible result. This is a little more expensive - but 100 % accurate and reliable.

Case Study

Two parents fighting for custody of their child, who had been taken into care, were requested to give a hair sample for alcohol analysis. A sample of head hair was taken from each parent under strict chain of custody conditions. The samples were analysed to determine if their alcohol abuse had reduced over the past three months. Results were shown on a month-by-month basis by sectioning the samples into 1cm sections. The results proved that the wife had a negative result, but as alleged the husband's alcohol in-take had remained at a chronic level over the tested period.

Collection Service

ScreenSafe UK provides a professional collection service to all areas within the UK and Ireland. Our qualified collection officers will make sure that a legally defensible Chain of Custody is provided by: (i) collecting the correct quantity of hair, from the correct area, in the correct manner; (ii) accurately completing and presenting all paperwork correctly; (iii) despatching the sample(s) safely and on time. Collection appointments are arranged and organised to meet your deadlines (wherever possible) ensuring peace of mind for you and your client or patient. Results are guaranteed within 10 working days (or less where Fast-Track is requested) from receipt of sample at our laboratory allowing you to plan your case, hearing or appointment dates with complete confidence.

Expert Witness Statement

  • An Expert Witness Statement provides essential support at court.
  • A detailed explanation and interpretation of positive results. All results are supported by a full toxicological report.
  • Expert Witness attendance at court is also available, if required.

NOT ALL SAMPLE COLLECTIONS ARE THE SAME!
NOT ALL TESTING IS THE SAME!
NOT ALL INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS IS THE SAME!

Please contact our friendly, professional and experienced team for details of current Hair testing products and solutions and why you/your client will benefit from using ScreenSafe UK.

The following pages may be of interest to you:

Please do not hesitate to contact Customer Services on 08450 505590 or via email (enquiries@screensafeuk.co.uk) if you require any further help or assistance.

Alcohol Hair Test Leaflet
Drug Hair Test Leaflet
Benefits of Segmentation Leaflet