Hair Testing
ScreenSafe UK is an established company with a proven track record in Drugs testing. Our 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 use, making it essential in child residence, protection orders, family and criminal cases. By providing information on exposure to drugs over time, hair analysis can be useful in verifying self-reported histories of drug use in any situation in which a past history of drug use is desired. During controlled tests of hair, a drug user is not able to hide the fact that they abuse drugs. Once ingested, the drug 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 team, which includes the 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 our 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.

We provide a fully comprehensive package of advice, support and drug testing service to medico-legal professions for use in family, criminal law, child protection and social services matters. We also assist in Forensic cases, including “date rape” cases where the court wishes to know if “one-off” hits of a drug were used. Other UK laboratories do not have the capabilities to run such highly sensitive tests.

Drugs 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 use. We can even section the hair to, say 3 x 1cm to show what has been taken month by month.

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 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, 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 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 are where their results are left open to challenge). The root end is placed in the correct position in the sheet. 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. 

The samples are checked at the laboratory to ensure tamper proof seals are not broken and then follow an approved and accredited (via audit) process through the laboratory. For hair the samples will be tested for the drugs you requested that are on our standard drug panel.  The hair analysis involves many processes but below are the main 5 steps:

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.

We guarantee a turnaround time of 10 working days from receipt at the laboratory for hair analysis (which is a longer process due to the unique window of detection and analytical process required) although this is often improved upon where possible (6-7 working days is regularly achieved on standard analysis)

Alcohol Detection in Hair

ScreenSafe UK is proud to offer Alcohol (Ethylglucuronide) detection in hair, which is a unique process only available from our Laboratory services. Our laboratory services are far in advance scientifically than any UK laboratories’ research into this process and many others (see section below). We lead where others follow.

The process for sampling of hair for alcohol detection is exactly as described above (as per drug analysis). However, in this test the laboratory will be looking for Ethylglucuronide in hair via direct confirmatory methodology, as conventional screening methods are not accurate or sensitive enough due to the levels requiring detection. Considering the large dimension of alcohol-associated problems, the diagnosis of excessive alcohol consumption and dependency is an important task from a medical and social point of view. 

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 505591 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.

TOP