What Influences Levels of Drugs Found in Hair?

Paul Hunter, Founder of FTS, and Sarah Branson, Barrister at Coram Chambers, explore the significant impact of hair treatments on hair strand testing (HST) results. They explain how heat, chemical treatments, and dyes can degrade hair, making it more porous and altering drug concentrations. These changes can lead to false positives or negatives, as drugs may be removed, redistributed, or transferred along the hair.

Their discussion highlights how oversimplified interpretations based on cut-off levels can misrepresent actual drug use. This video stresses the importance of considering hair treatment history, frequency, and sample collection location to ensure accurate and fair test results.