What to expect at your hair strand collection appointment

When a drug or alcohol hair strand test is requested, it is often during a time of uncertainty and stress for a family. Our mission at FTS is simple: to provide the most accurate evidence while treating people with the dignity they deserve.  

We do everything we can to make sample collection as simple and stress-free as it can be. If you’ve been ordered to take a drug or alcohol test, here is a short guide on what to expect at your hair strand sample collection appointment. 

Appointment scheduling

Our customer service team will call you to arrange an appointment. They will remind you ahead of your appointment not to cut, chemically treat or bleach your hair. Once a date has been set, a text confirmation is sent to you that includes more details about the appointment. This includes a link to a video explaining the collection process. The day before the appointment, the Forensic Investigation Officer (FIO) attending your appointment will call to introduce themselves. 

Client Questionnaire

Our team will also attempt to go through a detailed client questionnaire with you the day before the appointment. This questionnaire is designed to ensure we don’t miss out any important contextual information in your case. It is your opportunity to share anything that we need to be aware of ahead of the collection appointment and testing. 

Our FIO will take roughly 20 mins to go through questions about lifestyle, medications, self-declared use of substances, and any hair treatments (like dyes, chemical treatments or bleaches) or hair tools used.  

By building a better understanding of your daily life and hair condition, our experts can provide a drug testing and/or alcohol testing reports that reflects the true context of your case, rather than merely reporting results with numbers alone or as “yes/no”. 

If we are unable to go through the client questionnaire the day before your appointment, our FIO will run through it with you at the start of your appointment. 

Meet our team at one of our mobile clinics

For your appointment, our FIO will meet you at a time and location that is safe, discreet and convenient for you. FTS is the only provider to offer appointments via our own fleet of discreet mobile collection clinics, in the form of unmarked vans. Our vans look like any other van on the road, so there will be no cause for suspicion or curiosity from bystanders.   

Our purpose-built vans offer a clean, sterile, and private setting, ensuring there is no possibility for contamination of samples. Our FIOs are friendly, highly trained, and non-judgmental. They will do everything they can to make the sample collection as easy as possible. 

You should allow up to 90 minutes for the entire collection process. 

Identity verification and consent

At the start of the appointment, our FIO will need to confirm your identity using ID (such as a passport, utility bill or driving license) to ensure the right person is being tested. They will take a photograph for documentation purposes and to cross-check this with the legal professional who instructed the test. 

They will also need to get your consent for the appointment to go ahead and samples to be taken. Our FIO will provide you with any information you might need and will explain every step of the collection.  

Professional and Gentle Collection

Depending on the testing needed, our FIO will collect two to four locks of hair no bigger than a 20p coin from your head. We usually take samples close to the scalp from the back of the head. If head hair is not available, we can use body hair from other areas and take a finger and toenail clipping. 

Some tests may require blood samples to be taken; often this is done via a finger prick test. Our team can provide more information before or at the appointment. For tests requiring blood samples, we will usually collect via a simple finger prick. Our mobile clinics are equipped with private bathrooms that you can use if urine samples are required. 

Our FIOs are also experienced in working with babies and children, ensuring our process is quick, non-invasive, and handled with the utmost care. We will also photograph the hair sample site and collected samples as part of a documented paper trail to protect you and the integrity of your case. It ensures your sample(s) is properly handled from start to finish and has not been tampered with. 

Signature and end of appointment

After your samples have been collected, our FIO will securely seal these in your presence in tamper-evident packaging. Once all samples and documentation has been completed, you are free to go. Your samples are sent directly to our accredited laboratory in West Yorkshire for processing.  

Your court admissible report should be ready within 8 working days and will be sent directly to your solicitor or instructing party. 

Do you still have questions?

Can I refuse a hair strand test?

If you have received a court order to undergo drug testing or alcohol testing, it is in your best interest to comply. This is because any refusal to comply is likely to be seen by the court in a negative light and could have an impact on your case. FTS cannot enforce a collection, but we can demystify and make the process less daunting. We are here to support you, and our staff will never judge you. 

What if I don’t have head or body hair?

You or your solicitor should inform us at the earliest opportunity if you do not have sufficient hair on your head or body. In these cases, we will suggest taking a nail sample, which can also give us important information about any possible drug or alcohol use or exposure. Please do not cut your hair or nails prior to sample collection. 

Will the sample site be visible to other people?

We do all we can to ensure the sample area is on a discreet spot on your head, however depending on hair style or type this is not always possible.  

What if I have any questions after the sample collection or the report is delivered?

Our team of experienced customer service managers are always on hand to support you ahead of every sample collection. Our team also provides solicitors, local authorities and social workers with support post reporting, ensuring results are clearly understood. 

Contact Us

If you are unsure about any part of the hair strand testing process or would like to discuss your appointment in more detail, our experienced team is here to help. We understand that testing can feel daunting, and we are committed to supporting you with professionalism, discretion and care at every stage. 

You can contact our team by telephone on 01924 480272. 

We are always happy to explain the process, answer questions, and help you feel fully informed before your appointment.