The Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) was founded in 1995 by leading toxicologists from around the world. Its purpose is to establish and publish guidelines for hair testing procedures, including sample collection, storage, preparation, analysis and interpretation. It has a worldwide network of members and has published several guidance documents relating to the analysis of drugs and alcohol in hair, setting industry standards to support the continued acceptance of hair drug and alcohol testing as evidence in court.
The advantage of using hair for drug and alcohol testing is its ability to provide a historical profile of substance use. Scientific studies have determined that head hair grows at approximately 1cm per month. As it grows, traces of the drugs and their breakdown products (metabolites) consumed by the individual are incorporated into the hair. We can then segment the hair to look at historical patterns and trends of drug use over time. Using head hair we can establish a history of up to 12 months if the sample donor has at least 12cm of hair available.
Using cutting-edge technology we routinely test for 29 common ‘drugs of abuse’ and drug metabolites. If you are unsure of which drugs could have been consumed by the donor, our full panel tests for the 7 drug groups most frequently asked for by the courts.
Our commitment to maintaining the highest levels of precision and quality in hair strand testing is deeply rooted in our adherence to the SoHT’s comprehensive guidelines. With 35 years’ experience of being a leading provider of laboratory testing in family law cases, we fully understand that the results we provide play a pivotal role in making decisions for children and their families. That is why we are trusted to provide reliable and accurate results delivered with exceptional customer care.
If you need a quote for drug and alcohol testing, you can obtain one instantly online on our quote page. Alternatively, you can call one of our friendly customer service team on 0800 036 2522, 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.