A Hair Drug Test
is considered highly accurate at showing any prescription drugs, drugs of abuse
or even nicotine from smoking that have been used within a specified detection
window.
Some people attempt to circumvent the hair test through
shaving their heads. In the absence of the required amount of hair on the
scalp, any body hair can be used as an acceptable substitute. For
pre-employment hair testing the inability to obtain a sample may be grounds for
not hiring the individual.
As hair grows out drugs used are encased in the hair shaft, so the longer the
hair, the longer back in an individual's drug history the drug testing
laboratory can go. Most hair drug testing laboratories tend to use only
the hair within about 2.5 - 4 cm of the scalp and discard the rest. This
arbitrarily limits the detection history to about 90 days, depending upon the
rate at which your hair grows.
In recent years, hair testing has been the subject
of a number of law suits. Some studies have shown that different ethnic groups
have different hair structures potentially leading to false-positives. A
false positive is when you test positive for drug use and have not used any
drugs. Those of African origin, certain Orientals or Pacific Islanders
might be more apt to test positive for marijuana based on their skin type. Dark
skinned Caucasians such as those from the subcontinent of India could also read
positive on a marijuana hair drug test
s. For more information on a false positive click
false positive drug tests.
There is a growing trend in major companies and law enforcement agencies to
utilize
hair analysis drug test in account of its
efficiency and reputation as the gold standard when considering test accuracy.
This technology makes use of radioimmunoassay technology with subsequent
confirmation by mass spectrometry. Hair Testing labs are regulated by CLIA
(Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) or SAMHSA (Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and not
the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
How Contamination Takes Place: Prescription and/or controlled substances
are ingested. Your body
"metabolizes" this material and
trace amounts of these "metabolites", through the blood, become entrapped the strands
in amounts roughly proportional to the amount of the substance
ingested. These
metabolites remain in the strands as it grows and
cannot be removed without destroying the strands. Analysis not only can detect these metabolites, but also can provide information of quantity consumed and even
the historic pattern of use. Use can be detected for many months or even
years in the future under ideal circumstances.
About Hair Strand Drug TestThe shaft is made up three layers. The inner
layer is the medulla. The next layer is the cortex and the outer layer is the
cuticle. The cortex makes up the majority of the shaft and is formed by tightly
packed scales in an overlapping structure similar to roof shingles.
The
metabolites are deposited
within the cortex layer as it feeds off the contaminated blood and grows.
How The Analysis
Works: A
sample
can be obtained from any part of the body. This means
shaving your head will not work as under arm or pubic samples can be
used.
The sample is removed and cut it into very small pieces. This is soaked in
a solvent that causes some of the metabolites to go into suspension. The
solution is then placed in a centrifuge and separated. The sample is then
subjected to analysis, the results are read and a conclusion made.
The first stage cleans and then opens up
the cuticle layer with a special shampoo.
The second stage places sealer around the
"scales" of the cuticle and this sealer can not to be dissolved in any
solvent. If there are no metabolites in the solvent as it is analyzed,
then there is nothing to detect. The sealant will
remain on the sample indefinitely, so if the sample is analyzed even years
later, you will still be O. K.
The third stage is a conditioner
to aid in control of tangles, add sheen and generally improve manageability.
Once this three-part process is completed you are ready for up to eight
hours. Any samples taken from your body during this eight hour period will
remain clean indefinitely.
Works within 10 minutes.
Continues to work for up to 8 hours.
Once the sample is taken - it remains clean
indefinitely.
Can not be detected.
One application for any length or amount.
Does not affect your hair treatments such as color,
perms or straighters.
Having timely hair drug
testing info can mean the difference between passing and failing or being
stressed out or not. Please review these hair
test facts for if nothing else - peace of mind.
A drug hair test is an
examination that uses a small sample of hair to identify specific drug usage
(legal, prescription and/or over the counter) by the person being tested.
A hair drug test measures the drug only after the drug has been processed by the
human body into metabolites. Trace amounts of these metabolites are
inserted into hair strand by the bloodstream.
A
drug test hair sample covers a period of
approximately 90 days, but is susceptible to time variation depending on the
growth rate of your hair. The drug test hair sample is cut as close to the
scalp as possible and the most recent 4 cm (or 1.5 inches) is tested. It
is possible to go back even further than 90 days since the time period is
limited only by the length of the hair sample. It is entirely up to the
testing laboratory.
Cocaine (Cocaine & Benzoylecgonine), Marijuana,
Opiates (Codeine, Morphine & 6-Monacteyl Morphine), Methamphetamine
(Methamphetamine/Amphetamine & Ecstasy) and Phencyclidine (PCP)are are the five
drug classes that are mandated for testing by the Federal Government.
Some
screenings go farther and look for more specific substances such as steroids,
prescriptions and/or tobacco product usage.
It is safe to assume if you are concerned about a specific usage the testing
agency will be too.
Most
often hair from ones head is used for drug testing if at all possible. The
growth rates for body hair can be considerably slower than the hair from your
head. It is challenging to precisely represent the time period of a
standard screen with body hair other than your head hair, so substances may be
detected in body hair for up to 1 year after the substance left the blood
stream.
A standard screen with GC/MS confirmation requires
40+ milligrams of hair or approximately 50 - 70 strands that are up to 4 cm (or
1.5 inches) in length. The thickness and pigment color of different types of
head hair (thick black vs. thinning gray) is the basis of this variation.
Hair can be collected from several head and/or body
locations and combined to obtain the required amount of hair. In the rare
case where no hair is collectable, complete urine/adulteration testing may be
utilized. However, some companies might use the absence of hair for a drug
test to deny employment.
In
comparison to a urinalysis drug test, a cocaine hair drug test or one for PCP,
opiates, and /or methamphetamine have proven hair analysis far more effective
than urine testing in identifying low-level drug use over an extended period of
time since these are normally out of the bloodstream in within a relatively
short period of time. The detection of marijuana is currently less
sensitive than the other drugs in identifying low level drug users, but is
considered approximately equal to urinalysis in identifying marijuana users.
The detection period for hair is limited only by the length of the hair sample
and is approximately 90 days for a standard screen.
After a substance is ingested,
whether orally, smoked, snorted, or injected, metabolites are produced as the
drug is processed by the human body. As these metabolites circulate in the
blood stream, they enter and nourish the hair strand and are then inserted into
the hair strand. For more information on this process go
>
here <.
Not
Exactly. The quality, accuracy and reliability of can very between
manufacturers. Companies often use slightly different product ingredients.
You will probably not know which one is being used.
In
most situations in hair drug testing the minimum time period is approximately
one week.
For more information on urine, blood or saliva
detection times, please see
drug detection times.
Commonly used products (shampoos, conditioners, sprays, mousses and gels)
usually have no significant effect. In fact, normal washing helps to
remove any external presence.
You understand and agree that our
products are not to be used for any illegal purposes, including use for lawfully
administered drug tests.Any
information included in this website is intended to provide general information
only. It's not intended to encourage or discourage drug abuse or cheating on
drug tests. Please follow your own conscience about that. Because drug testing
laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change, the accuracy of the
information contained in this web site is not guaranteed. It's not intended to
interpret the law or give legal advice. Neither the author nor publisher are
engaged in rendering legal services. Please see an
attorney for legal services.
