New Research Highlights Reliability of Hair Testing

LONDON, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) research, based on data provided by Trimega Laboratories, has confirmed that dual testing on hair for alcohol misuse provides accuracy rates of over 94%. In support of advancing hair alcohol testing usage in child protection, Trimega's data set of approximately 2,000 samples, the largest of its kind in the world, was used for interpretation for both types of test.

Professor Dr Fritz Pragst and Dr Silke Suesse, two of the leading pioneers in testing hair for substance misuse, presented their findings on the practical applications of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) for the detection of chronic alcohol abuse in forensic cases to attendees of the 16th annual symposium of the SoHT in Chamonix, France. Their findings showed that using the dual hair testing methodology (testing for EtG and FAEE) runs less than a 1% risk of resulting in a false positive, and just a 5.75% risk of a false negative.

Other conclusions from the research show that the combined use of FAEE and EtG, already recommended by the SoHT as best practice, avoids incorrect interpretations caused by hair cosmetics since both methods are sensitive to different treatments. However, it was also stressed that hair testing should not be the single determining factor in cases of substance misuse. It should always be used as part of the overall evidential picture.

Professor Pragst said: "In the last few years, hair analysis for alcohol markers has become an important diagnostic tool in forensic and clinical cases. We continue to research the benefits of dual testing and are delighted that the results of our latest study that show that together EtG and FAEE tests provide a far more accurate long-term view of alcohol abuse than other forms of analysis. We are very grateful to Trimega Laboratories for providing the data for our research."

Avi Lasarow, CEO of Trimega Laboratories, said: "We are honoured that the Society of Hair Testing chose to base its research on our data. The society and the UK courts advise that both FAEE and EtG tests should be conducted for hair-alcohol analysis and we are proud that Trimega was the first company worldwide to provide both tests. We look forward to contributing further to research in the sector."

Professor Pragst and Dr Suesse, Director of Trimega's Drogencheck GmbH laboratory in Germany, along with seven other experts in the field, used Trimega's data to test the limits and possible pitfalls of these markers when testing for chronic excessive alcohol consumption.

As hair grows, it absorbs FAEEs and EtG into its structure. While FAEE markers get into the hair mainly by diffusion from an external sebum layer, EtG markers are formed almost exclusively in the liver and then deposited into hair mainly from sweat. The more markers there are, the more alcohol has been consumed.

The SoHT meets annually to discuss the latest research in hair testing technologies in forensic, clinical and occupational sciences.

About Trimega Laboratories

Established in London in 2005, Trimega Laboratories ( http://www.trimegalabs.co.uk) has developed a range of innovative techniques for testing substances of abuse. Its core business is laboratory-based analysis of hair samples that provide accurate historical records of any alcohol or drugs dependency over a one to 12 month period. In the UK its clients include: family law specialists, social services, regulatory bodies, and professional nursing and pilot organisations. Trimega also works with courts directly.

Other services offered by Trimega Laboratories include: Roadside Drugalyzer Testing for law enforcement, Hair Steroid Testing for athletes, and most recently, Hair Benzodiazepines Testing. Trimega Laboratories won the title of Best Use of Technology in the 2008 Barclays-sponsored Startups Awards and has been on the shortlist for the National Business Awards three years running. It was also one of 25 companies to represent the UK in the 2010 European Business Awards.

Trimega Laboratories' subsidiary in Germany, Trimega Drogencheck, conducts our hair-alcohol tests and is accredited with international standard ISO 17025. Trimega Drogencheck was accredited by DAkkS, the German issuing authority, equivalent to UKAS in the UK. The technology for hair-alcohol testing originated in Germany.

The UK Ministry of Justice does not require hair testing laboratories to be accredited. However, our UK laboratory in Manchester, which carries out drug tests, operates to ISO 17025 standards, and is being audited by UKAS to receive accreditation. We expect the laboratory will receive UKAS final accreditation under the 17025 standard very soon.

Our UK laboratory already has IS0 9001:2008 certification from Lloyd's Register Group, itself accredited by UKAS, for the 'provision of clinical collecting, testing, analysis and interpretation services for substances of abuse'.

In addition, we have ISO 14001 certification from QMS International, the environmental management system standard for internal quality management. Trimega's Manchester laboratory is the only UK laboratory in the industry to have this certification. Trimega is also an Investor in People.

Trimega was also responsible for the creation of a Hair Strand Scientific Advisory Board. Its purpose is to analyse the fast growing database of information created from the 10,000 hair alcohol tests and 7,000 hair drug tests carried out in the UK each year, of which Trimega is responsible for around 40 per cent. The findings of the Board are shared with the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) which, as a peer review organisation, will assist it in future decisions - particularly those relating to the setting of universal standards/guidelines. The Board consists of:

Dr Hans Sachs - a past President of the SoHT and the lead scientist in the Harold Shipman case;

Professor Dr Fritz Pragst - an award-winning forensic toxicologist and founding father of Hair Alcohol Testing; and

Dr Silke Suesse - a member of SoHT and Laboratory Director of Trimega

Drogencheck GmbH laboratory.

Trimega is a Charter Member of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.