Hair Strand Testing (HST) Working Group

Objective

The Family Justice Council has become aware of concerns raised about hair strand testing (HST) – its evidential value in context, its limitation, and the weight that is placed on HST reports in family court proceedings.

Considering these concerns, the FJC Working Group aims to produce best practice guidance.

Members

Dr Sheena Webb (Co-chair)
HHJ Rachel Hudson (Co-Chair)
Matt Clayton
DJ Stewart Hughan
Lindy Stephens
Simon Rowbotham
Victoria Warden

The working group will remain open to additional members subject to need for specific expertise around the topic of HST.

Terms of Reference

The FJC Working Group aims to produce best practice guidance with a view to:

  • Increasing awareness of the variables that are known to impact absorption rate, such as age, hair colour, race, hair condition, hair treatment, pregnancy and body size, and the broader context that impact and affect the interpretation of HST analysis.
  • Consider best practice with respect to arranging and instructing hair strand testing.
  • Consider Part 25 instructions that would ensure assessment, analysis and interpretation meets the evidence standards required for the Court. 
  • Consider best practice for those involved in the family justice system when interpreting, evaluating and presenting the outcome of hair strand test results, including in court and pre-proceedings.
  • Increasing awareness of the different stages of interpretation involved in the reporting of hair strand test results, and of factors to consider when there may be the need to instruct additional expertise.

The guidance will be aimed at judiciary, legal practitioners, Cafcass and local authorities.

The Council recognises the difficulty in providing a comprehensive review of the way hair strand testing evidence is instructed, reported, and interpreted in the family courts. The guidance would aim to highlight best practices to mitigate for any risks identified in the current reporting/interpretation of HST results.  

Timeframe

The working group first met in December 2024, and the final terms of reference were approved by the Council in April 2025.  The group aim to produce guidance within 12 months.