Have you ever heard of forensic hair analysis?
It is a part of forensic toxicology which is used to measure drugs, toxins, alcohol consumption on the human body. These tests are beneficial in solving crime investigations. Forensic toxicology tests include many areas like DNA, toxins, poisons, drugs, garment stains, forensic hair analysis (Why Hair Testing? ), saliva, sperms, heavy metals, and postmortems. These tests can give a U-turn to any criminal case and can lead straight to the criminal.
How do forensic scientists Analyse hair?
The hair can be analyzed by determining the chemical makeup of the hair or extracting DNA from the hair follicle. Hair can also be analyzed through the use of a microscope or by simply comparing two or more hairs against one another.
How does hair help solve crimes?
How is the hair used to solve the crime? The study of the hair follicles found at the scene goes beyond the hair color. Three layers of the hair shaft are used in determining how a crime was committed and who the criminal may be. … This tissue has nuclear DNA which helps create a DNA profile unique to the hair’s
What is the main purpose of hair?
The functions of hair include protection, regulation of body temperature, and facilitation of evaporation of perspiration; hairs also act as sense organs. Hairs develop in the fetus as epidermal down growths that invade the underlying dermis.
Many toxicology tests, consider blood, urine samples to find traces of toxins or drugs, but some may also consider saliva, garment stains, sperm samples too. The main concern of forensic toxicologist is to find the real cause for the death of the victim – drug, poison or toxin. Second, if this is true then they need to search for the particular poison, drug or toxin that was employed and find out how it was given.
Hair analysis could become an important alternative to DNA testing
When the death-causing element is identified, it may be isolated. Then the food, drink or other suspected items are checked for the same element. Similarly, hair analysis can lead to DNA analysis, which can prove beneficial in identifying the criminal. These tests are important to solve a murder mystery, therefore, forensic toxicology is helpful in reaching the criminal with solid proofs.
News: FBI admits flaws in hair analysis over decades
If you are searching for some special laboratory for this analysis, then one, The Carlson Company and TOXICOLOGY AND DNA GLOBAL SERVICES can help you find answers to your uncertainty now. they offer complete Scopolamine test including hair strands collected from the scalp (at skin level, no follicles please) arms, legs, chest, back, eyebrows, and the public.
Forensic Toxicology Blog 