Hair Drug Test
Hair Drug Test call 01274 591792
For hair drug test sample collection rapid response:
- MHS provides an accredited, national hair drug testing service using accredited laboratories.
- MHS has over 100 collectors covering the whole of the British Isles providing a 24 x 7 response.
Our professional hair sample collectors comply with standards set by the Society of Hair Testing Forensic Science International 84 (1997) 3-6 which we have re-produced for your guidance.
In order to avoid expensive and unreliable hair drug test procedures which sometimes result in court criticisms we have prepared the following list of protocols that should be followed by hair drug testing companies.
Hair Sampling
The hair sample should be cut from the posterior vertex region of the head, as close as possible to the scalp, since this is the region of least variation in growth rate. If not, the source of the sampling should be described. In general, head hair is estimated to grow at approximately 1.0 cm per month.
1. The hair sample collection
The colour, length, body site and any obvious cosmetic treatment of the hair should be recorded
Root (proximal) and tip (distal) sections of the hair should be clearly defined
If segmental analysis is required, a lock of hair must be fixed before cutting.
Head hair is the preferred specimen. Alternative hair (e.g. pubic, auxillary) can be collected if head hair is unavailable.
The sample and any aliquots or extracts must be handled and stored in a manner so as to minimize degradation, loss of analyte, or contamination from other sources. Dry hair should be stored in the dark at room temperature.
There must be adequate sample to allow initial testing, followed by confirmatory or re-testing of the sample if necessary. A lock of hair, with the thickness of a pencil, or several locks with the thickness of a straw is recommended.
In post-mortem cases, hair should be collected at the beginning of an autopsy.
2. Decontamination
When hair analysis is being used to identify drug use, the major limitation is external contamination, which if not removed, can confuse exposure with actual drug use. The issue of external contamination must be addressed through multiple methodologies and cannot be solved through the simple application of any single approach.
Areas of possible contamination must be considered before and during the analysis. These may include, but are not limited to, external drug exposure and laboratory contamination.
A simple use of cut-off levels is insufficient because external contamination can be at any level.
In general, a decontamination strategy must include an initial organic solvent, to remove oils, followed by aqueous washes.
The washings should be stored for later analysis, if necessary
In autopsy or exhumation cases, additional pre-treatment of the hair in the laboratory may be necessary, depending on the condition of the sample
3. Hair disintegration and extraction
Different analytical procedures can produce different quantitative results. Each laboratory has the choice of disintegrating the hair matrix before extraction, or of extracting the drug directly from the solid hair after suitable preparation
Degradation compounds may be produced during the assay. In order to assess the degree of conversion, the laboratory must include adequate controls.
4. Hair Screening Test
If a screening test is used, an appropriate method validation including calibrators and controls in a hair matrix must be performed
Analytes of interest must be identified to minimize false negatives.
5. Criteria for mass spectrometric analysis
The method must be validated according to good laboratory practice.
The possible influence of the internal standard at low concentrations must be assessed and documented
For information on valid criteria for mass spectrometric analysis, refer to recommended rules from scientific organizations or national guidelines.
6. Specific Drug Classes
Drugs and metabolites in hair should be analyzed using valid methods. Detection levels will be different between drug classes. Some examples for specific drugs are presented below.
6.1 Opiates hair test
Immunochemical test:
A morphine or 6-acetylmorphine level of 0.2 ng/mg must produce a positive result
Chromatographic test:
Recommended Limit of Quantification (LOQ): ≤ 0.2 ng/mg for each compound
Heroin consumption must be differentiated from codeine or morphine use by the presence of 6-acetylmorphine..
6.2 Cocaine hair test
Immunochemical test:
A cocaine level of 0.5 ng/mg must produce a positive result
Chromatographic test:
Recommended Limit of Quantification (LOQ): ≤0.5 ng/mg for cocaine, ≤0.05 ng/mg for other compounds
The chromatographic analysis should include cocaine, and at least one of the following: benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, norcocaine or ecgonine methylester
6.3 Amphetamines hair test
Immunochemical test:
A concentration of 0.2 ng/mg of each substance must separately produce a positive result:
Chromatographic test:
Recommended Limit of Quantification (LOQ): ≤0.2 ng/mg for each compound
MDMA, methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDEA or MDA
Note: Laboratories should be aware of the possible ingestion of legal drugs producing positive results for methamphetamine and amphetamine
6.4 Cannabinoids hair test
Immunochemical test:
A THC concentration of 0.1 ng/mg must produce a positive result
Chromatographic test:
Recommended Limit of Quantification (LOQ):
THC:≤ 0.1 ng/mg
THC-COOH:≤ 0.2 pg/mg
Confirmation of THC-COOH is required to definitively prove the use of cannabinoids
7.0 Internal Quality Control
Internal Quality Control for hair is more difficult than for other homogenous body fluids, since spiked control samples cannot substitute for the actual hair of a drug user. However, spiked controls may be substituted for hair from drug users if properly prepared.
One technique is to expose drug-free hair to aqueous solutions of drugs at high concentrations, for several days and then thoroughly wash the hair before drying and analysis. When suitably homogenized, these spiked samples can be used for precision studies, routine QCs, and as internal degradation controls. Various hair types should be employed.
Although controls may be homogenized pools, the substitution of properly prepared spiked controls is acceptable
For endogenous drugs, controls may be prepared using an alternative medium, for example, synthetic melanin
8.0 External Quality Control
For external quality control, the laboratory should enrol in a proficiency testing program, where authentic standard hair specimens are sent for testing
The laboratory must analyze proficiency specimens in the same way as routine samples
If a laboratory does not consistently perform adequately in external proficiency programs, corrective actions must be taken
In the case of the Society of Hair Testing, reference laboratories will be named, and their results will be used as a reference method and result source.
The results of their analysis are collated and compared to those from selected reference laboratories.
9.0 Alcohol Hair testing
Hair testing for biological markers that suggest alcohol misuse is still a valid methodology provided it is not used in isolation to other factors Society of hair testing
Consensus from the Society of Hair Testing Forensic Science International 84 (1997) 3-6
If you have also had a bad experience through an unreliable hair test let us know and we will investigate.
For a list of companies that we recommend please call our expert :
0845 873 9602 for free advice
If you need help on drug addiction Talk to Frank
MHS Hair drug testing benefits:
There are many benefits in analysing hair for illegal substances.
On-line cost effective hair drug testing
Personal hair drug testing kits allows private individuals to access our laboratory service from the privacy of their home. The Home hair test service is an inexpensive method of discovering whether an individual has been using drugs over prolonged period of time.
Hair drug test sample collection service
MHS also provides a national hair test collection service to statutory agencies including social service and child protection agencies.
Our hair drug test services are extensively used by lawyers, occupational health, insurance companies and other bodies.
Call us now for an informal discussion of your own special needs:
National call center 01274 591792
Remember key benefits include:
- Simple, quick, hygienic and non invasive
- Just one hair test can produce the same amount of information as 6 urine samples
- Can be taken months or even years after the incident
- Does not need to be carried out as frequently as other testing methods
- Gives the history of drug usage prior to sampling, thus giving valuable knowledge of past drug use.
The benefits of laboratory based hair drug tests are well known: technology is state-of-the-art, windows of detection are longer and results are accurate and reliable, but above all, they are definitive and legally defensible in a court of law.
With a ‘budget-friendly’ UKAS accredited service we guarantee you will receive all the support and guidance needed for case closure.
Drug Hair Testing is ideal for medico-legal requirements
including:
Child access drug testing services
One of the most popular service is our child access package which offers a bespoke assessment process for answering the most often asked questions by Courts and social services.
We provide a rapid and responsive hair and blood testing service with our express service usually providing blood and hair results within 2 working days of receipt at the laboratory.
Our consultants have extensive experience in working in a multi disciplinary setting.
Working with child protection agencies including social services, police, probation, health and local government agencies over a number of years gives you the added value that only MHS can provide.
Child access
| Drug Hair Testing for alcohol misuse alcohol in hair QA Scientific breakthroughs have enabled the Company to undertake hair analysis for discovering whether a subject has a history of consuming significant amounts of alcohol. We can also provide more specific scientific data relating to more recent use using blood sample analysis. |
