The testing of hair samples for drugs can provide a detection window of many months and, hence, show the historical use of drugs over a long period of time.
Hair testing is generally used alongside routine samples such as blood and urine as a supplementary test and can be useful in any case where the longer term pattern of drug taking is at issue such as:
In deceased individuals – tests could provide evidence of their drug use in the months leading up to their death
Where a subject has denied illicit drug use - testing can show if any drugs have been taken over a specified time period where drugs have been found in sexual offence complainants – tests could show if the complainant is a regular user of drugs.
