Contact
Dr. J. Teske
Dr. M. Dziadosz

Address
Hannover Medical School
Institute of Forensic Medicine
- OE 5500 -
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30625 Hannover

Telephone 0511 / 532-4570

The following points should be observed when collecting hair samples for testing for drug substances:

Avoid contamination
Sampling (including packaging and shipping) must be carried out in such a way that contamination by BTM substances (e.g. from narcotics evidence, carry-over by the sampler, etc.) is excluded.

Place of sample collection / quantity
For hair analysis, scalp hair samples are the most suitable material. As a rule, a strand of hair about the thickness of a pencil (or several thinner ones if necessary) should be taken from the back of the head (occipital protuberance). The sample is cut off directly above the scalp, otherwise the remaining length on the head must be documented.

If no head hair can be secured, hair samples from other parts of the body (armpit or pubic hair) can also be used in principle, although the temporal correlation of the findings to consumption behavior is very limited.

Fixation
The strand of hair taken (scalp hair) is fixed with a string, preferably before it is cut off the head, so that the side close to the scalp (proximal) can be recognized as the interface and the side away from the scalp (distal) (mark if necessary!). Only in this way can individual segments, which can be assigned to specific time periods, be examined later.

In the case of very short hairs (or samples that are examined as a whole), fixation can be omitted!

Documentation/identity assurance
It is advisable to document all data on secured samples (date, length, any remaining length above the scalp, color, etc.) as well as any information provided by the test person (last haircut, hair care) and to enclose it with the samples. Identity verification is the responsibility of the person taking the sample and is usually ensured by means of the identity card number or a fingerprint (if desired).

Packaging/shipping
The fixed hair strand should be wrapped in aluminum foil, for example, for storage and shipping.

Blood and urine samples are taken by physicians in accordance with the applicable administrative regulations (collection systems without additives) and stored as cool as possible until dispatch/transport. Transportation to the laboratory should take place as quickly as possible.

Information on measurement uncertainties can be obtained from the laboratory if required.