Unraveling Hair Follicle Drug Screens: A Comprehensive Guide
Hair follicle drug screening is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used to detect and measure the presence of drugs or their metabolites in an individual's hair. It involves collecting a small sample of hair, typically from the scalp, for analysis. Hair follicle drug screens have gained significant importance in forensic science, drug abuse monitoring, and workplace drug testing. They provide a longer detection window compared to other testing methods, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of drug use patterns. A key historical development in hair follicle drug screening was the introduction of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the 1970s, which greatly enhanced the accuracy and sensitivity of the analysis.