FAQS
Is the hair pulled out of the scalp?
Although commonly referred to as hair follicle testing, it’s important to note that the actual hair follicle is not removed nor tested in this process. We prefer the terms hair testing or hair strand testing as they accurately describe the procedure, involving cutting the hair close to the scalp. This method ensures a quick and painless sample collection.
Can bald people be tested?
Yes – providing they have body hair. If the donor has no hair on their head, their chest or underarm hair can be tested instead. This may affect the detection timeframe for the sample. In cases where donors have no body hair, it’s possible to test their fingernails or toenails for traces of drugs and alcohol.
How is the hair collected?
Hair samples are mostly taken from the head, but can also be taken from the chest, leg or arm. When collecting a hair sample, the collector will use scissors to cut a small sample of hair from the scalp. We take approximately a shoelace-sized sample of head hear. This sample is then placed in a special foil wrap, inside a sealed, tamper-proof envelope which is then sent to the laboratory.
How long does the hair need to be?
Different hair types will cover different periods of time, for example head hair grows on average 1cm per month, meaning a minimum of 3cm would be needed to cover a 3 month period of time. Body hair covers a longer period of time. For more information, contact us.
What is chain of custody?
Chain of Custody refers to the legal protocol governing the handling of evidence, ensuring its integrity and admissibility in a court of law. Toxicology Solutions has received formal training in maintaining the chain of custody for samples.
The procedure involves the collector and donor signing certifications for collection, sealing, and forwarding to the laboratory. The collector places the sample inside foil, which is then inserted into a Sample Card and sealed, with the donor initialing a red security. Our partner laboratory receives the sample into the laboratory and checks the sample for integrity before testing begins.
How Does Hair Testing Work?
On consuming alcohol and drugs, the body breaks down the substances into metabolites. Drugs and metabolites circulate in the bloodstream and are then transferred into the hair shaft. Each drug detected in the hair has its own chemical ‘fingerprint’. When tested by a laboratory, the presence of a metabolite in a hair sample indicates if and when a person has ingested the substance over a period.
Hair on the human scalp typically grows one centimetre each month. A three-centimetre section of hair can therefore be tested to accurately reflect drug and alcohol use over approximately three months.
At the laboratory, this sample is tested via LC-MS/MS, or Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. When analysed by an expert, the test results can prove substance use anywhere from one month up to twelve months.
Why Choose Hair Testing Instead of Urine or Saliva Testing?
Hair testing is designed to identify patterns of drug or alcohol exposure over an extended period rather than recent use alone. Unlike urine or saliva testing, which generally detect recent consumption, hair testing can provide a longer-term overview of substance use history.
This makes hair testing particularly useful for Family Court matters, child custody proceedings, workplace investigations, legal matters and situations where a longer detection window is required.
Can External Exposure Cause a Positive Hair Test Result?
Accredited laboratories use extensive washing procedures and advanced analytical techniques to help distinguish between external contamination and substances that have been incorporated into the hair through the body. In many testing panels, laboratories also analyse specific metabolites, which can provide additional evidence that a substance has been ingested rather than merely coming into contact with the hair externally.
All results should be interpreted by appropriately qualified professionals in conjunction with the laboratory findings and the circumstances of the case.
