Discreet, fast hair strand drug testing from a UK-accredited lab
Accredited Drug Testing analysis, precise results
Our lab holds ISO 17025 and UKAS Lab 51 accreditation. Every sample is processed using highly sensitive equipment, and we assess the condition of the hair strand as part of our pre-testing analysis. What you receive isn’t simply a positive or negative. It’s a quantifiable result that identifies specific substances and tells a more complete story. One you can present with confidence in a courtroom, a professional assessment, or any setting where the answer needs to be watertight.
Advantages of hair testing
- Indicates patterns of drug or alcohol use over weeks and months
- Highly sensitive; highly accurate
- Simple, non-invasive collection
- Fast results
Disadvantages of hair testing
- Hair strand drug tests cannot precisely determine the quantity of substances used by the donor
- Samples cannot indicate substance use less than 7 days after the incident.
Tailored to what you actually need to know
The substances in question, the timeframe, the level of detail required: these shift depending on your situation. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here.
We test for an ever growing list of substances, such as Cocaine, Cannabinoids and Ketamine – and can focus any drug test accordingly. For those who know exactly what they’re looking for, individual substance testing is available. For broader coverage, our set panels give you a practical and cost-effective option:
The common 9 covers the most frequently encountered substances in the UK today and our extended 18 goes further, doubling the amount of substances at the same cost and turnaround
Hair testing samples made simple
Head hair follicle samples are taken by our own trained collectors. The process is non-invasive and discreet, and only a small amount is needed, roughly the width of a shoelace, which is less than many other laboratories require. We also take enough in a single collection that if retesting or repeat analysis is ever needed, we already have it covered. No second appointment, no further disruption.
Where head hair isn’t available, body hair can be used. It’s worth knowing that body hair won’t produce the same month-by-month breakdown, but it will still give a reliable overview of use across a time period.
If neither is an option, nail clippings can be tested. We’d always recommend head hair first, body hair second, and nails as a last resort, but whatever the situation, we will find the most appropriate route to an accurate result.
How hair strand drug
testing works
1. ingestion & metabolism
2. Incorporation into Hair
3. Window of detection
4. Laboratory Analysis
Speak to our team
Not sure which direction to take? Our team will help you figure out what’s right for your circumstances.
hair strand testing FAQs
Chemical treatments like bleaching or colouring can reduce the concentration of drug markers in hair, but our lab accounts for this during analysis. We’ll always flag if a sample shows signs of treatment that may have affected the result.
Body hair can be used as an alternative — underarm, chest, or leg hair are all options. It’s worth knowing that body hair grows at a different rate, so the timeframe it reflects is less precise than head hair and can only be tested as an overview of a time period, not a month by month breakdown.
All results are returned within 3 working days of the sample arriving at the lab.
We’re happy to talk through any result that raises questions. In some cases, a sample can be re-tested. Our experts can always provide a detailed explanation of the findings if needed.