The Society of Hair Testing consensus on general recommendations for hair testing and drugs of abuse testing in hair

In 2020, the board members of the Society agreed to create two new consensus documents on the general recommendations for hair testing and on drugs of abuse (DOA) testing in hair. Experts were invited to meet and agree the content of the consensus documents, followed by further review and approval by the Board of the SoHT and finally agreed by the membership at the annual meeting. The international experts are acknowledged for their contribution to both consensus documents. The first consensus summarized below on the general aspects of hair testing includes sampling, sample continuity, storage, segmentation, washing, pre-analytical steps, and analytical techniques as well as quality control and considerations for interpretation. The consensus was finalized and agreed during the SoHT board meeting on the 27 September 2022. This followed the expert meeting in Malaga on 4–5 March 2022 and being presented to the membership at the annual meeting in Verona on 10 June 2022. The next consensus deals with testing of DOA only in hair and includes recommended cut-offs for common DOA and interpretation considerations. The consensus was finalized and agreed during the SoHT board meeting on 16 November 2021. This followed the expert meeting in Sevilla on 7–8 February 2020, an online meeting in 29 June 2020, and being presented to the membership at the annual meeting in Santiago on 17 September 2021.