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Hair Drug Testing

Overview

Hair drug testing is a revolutionary method of testing for drugs using hair strand analysis used to establish and verify persistent substance misusers. The need for hair drug testing has steadily increased in recent years and is currently used by corporate companies of all industry sectors (including forensics, maritime, insurance and rail), and also widely used and accepted by the UK courts. Hair analysis not only determines the presence of an illegal substance, but it can also provide an accurate historical record of substance misuse. This helps in differentiating between a one-off user and a chronic substance abuser.


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Hair Drug Testing explained

For the complete picture of drug abuse


Hair drug testing vs. Urinalysis
  Hair Drug Testing Urinalysis
Window of detection Up to 12 months < 72 hours
History Established historical patterns of abuse (monthly quantities) No historical patterns possible
Regularity One-off testing Regular testing (costly)
Results False positives are eliminated Risk of false positives
Re-testing Possible Not possible due to short window of detection
Collection Non-invasive Invasive
Samples and storage Tamper proof Risk of tampering
 

Hair Drug Testing

Hair testing is the process in which hair specimens are analysed for illegal drugs. As hair growth is fed by the bloodstream, the ingestion of drugs of abuse is revealed by analysing a small sample of hair. The method used measures the drug molecules which are embedded indefinitely inside the hairshaft.

  • Amphetamines, Methamphetamines (Ecstasy, MDMA)
  • Barbiturate
  • Benzodiazepine
  • Cannabis (carboxy-THC)
  • Cocaine (benzoylecgonine, norcocaine, cocaethylene, crack)
  • Codeine
  • Heroin (6-monoacetylmorphine)
  • Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab)
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Methadone
  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone (Percocet)
  • Phencyclidine
  • Other drugs as requested
  • Street names for drugs

The Process: How drugs are Detected

When a drug enters the blood stream, it is broken down to a specific metabolite. The hair samples are subjected to an initial screening process whereby both the parent drug and the metabolite is isolated. If the sample screens positive, a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) confirmation test is performed.

Who can use this service?

Legal Sector

Hair drug tests have been regularly used by the UK legal sector for legal disputes and child care proceeding cases. Tests are usually requested by solicitors or social services, but may also be ordered by the courts directly. The admissibility of the tests is dependent upon strict sample collection protocols administered by Trimega Laboratories' trained nurses and sample collectors.

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Corporate Sector

The need to use hair drug testing within the corporate sector has dramatically increased over the last few years, used by various industries such as forensics, maritime, insurance, medical and rail. Increasingly, corporates believe there is a need to regulate their own industry by monitoring employees and ensuring that professionalism within their industry is maintained.

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Why Trimega?

  • Quick turnaround: Results available within 7-10 business days from receipt of sample
  • Hassle-free service: Fully co-ordinated sample collection service
  • Sample collections from our clinics in the Greater London area
  • Simple fast instruction process
  • Cost effective: Competitive pricing policy
  • FREE sample collection materials
  • Split-invoicing if requested
  • Certified to ISO 9001:2000 Quality management systems by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance who are a UKAS-accredited certification body.
  • Dedicated client services' team, providing exceptional quality service
  • Multiple award winning company

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