Overview vs. Segmented Hair Analysis

What drugs can be detected?

The standard drugs we test for in head hair are:

• Amphetamine
• Benzodiazepines
• Buprenorphine
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• Ketamine
• Mephedrone
• Methadone
• Methamphetamine
• Opiates
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Zolpidem

We can also arrange hair drug testing for GHB, LSD, Spice, Steroids, Tramadol and other less common drugs for an additional fee.

Types of analysis

An overview analysis is beneficial to obtain a general indication of drug use. This could range from 3 cm to identify drug use within that 3-month time period, up to 6 (2 x 3) or even 12 (4 x 3) months, dependent on the length of hair available.

A 6-month overview could also be used to provide two results: one for the earlier 3 months and a second result for the later 3 months. If a more detailed analysis is needed, segmented would be the preferred option.

By segmenting head hair samples into monthly 1 cm sections, a month-by-month profile of drug use can be attained to provide a detailed historical profile of an individual’s drug exposure.

If a hair drug test was to cover 6 months, a month-by-month analysis will provide six individual results for each of the months. As such, segmented analysis is especially useful if you need to obtain a trend in drug use, such as to see a decrease or increase in drug use over time, or to highlight intermittent use.

In an overview test, any episodes of drug taking are averaged out over the period being tested. For example, if an individual has not taken drugs for 2 months but then takes an excessive amount in the next month, drug markers will be found along the entire length of the hair. In the case of segmentation, the episode of drug taking can be pinpointed to the actual month.

Which test should you choose?

Answering the questions of When and How often your client used a substance can make or break a family law case. It is therefore essential to choose a test method that is right for your case.

If a 3-month overview drugs of abuse test is selected, even if an individual uses drugs occasionally, the test may come back positive for the whole 3-month period. This result implies that the sample donor had been abusing drugs during the whole period analysed.

To overcome this, segmented hair drug testing could be performed over the same 3-month period. The sample donor could show positive one month and negative the other 2 months. This would provide a more accurate assessment of the individual’s drug abuse/abstinence when presented to the court for scrutiny.

Cases such as this demonstrate the importance of an expert advising on the appropriate test to use. Taking an average of drug levels in a specified hair section without the knowledge of levels in the hair section prior to the period of interest can produce misleading results.

Examples of the head hair analyses regularly performed

Analysis type required	Number of segments	Reported time period	Type of Test
3 months	1	3 months	Overview
3 months	3	3 individual months	Segmented
6 months	2	2 x 3-month periods	Overview
6 months	6	6 individual months	Segmented

If you have further questions about overview vs. segmented hair analysis

For expert advice on hair testing and other drug testing solutions, please call our Customer Services team on 01 402 9466 or email us at info@alphabiolabs.ie.