Hair Analysis

Test Overview

Hair analysis is done by evaluating hair structure and DNA from cells attached to the root of the hair. It can be used to find out if people are related. Forensic hair analysis can be done to help identify a person who may have been present at a crime scene. Hair samples are tested with specific chemicals and looked at under a microscope. Hair analysis can also be used to check for poisoning caused by metals such as lead or mercury. But hair analysis alone usually is not used for this type of testing.

Hair is a protein that grows out of hair follicles in the skin. Normally, a hair grows in the hair follicle for many months, stops growing, and falls out. A new hair then grows in the follicle. Hair samples do not show recent changes in the body, such as drug use within the past few days. But a hair analysis may show drug use or exposure to chemicals that occurred over the last few months.