HAIR DRUG TEST INFORMATION AND ADVICE!

Drug hair tests are 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. 

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 1.5 inches 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. 

Some people attempt to circumvent the hair follicle drug 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. 

Failing A Drug Hair Test Is Often Grounds For Not Hiring or Dismissal.

In recent years, hair drug tes 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.

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. 

The 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 Hair Drug Testing 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. 

Instructions for use:

1. The first stage cleans and then opens up the cuticle layer with a special shampoo. 

2. 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.

3. 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.

• Simple instructions for Ultra Clean

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HAIR DRUG TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. What is a hair drug test?

2. What time period does a hair follicle drug test cover?

3. What type of drugs can be detected in standard hair drug tests?

4. Can body hair be drug tested like hair from the head?

5. How much hair is needed for drug hair test? 

6. What if I am almost bald or have very short hair?

7. How effective is hair drug testing in detecting drug usage?

8. How do drugs get into hair?

9. Hair drug tests - are they all created the same?

10. How long can prescription or controlled substances be detected in the hair test?

11. Can a positive result be caused by contaminates in the air or environment?

12. Can treatments or coloring effect the results?

13. How soon after use can a drug be detected in hair?

14. Can hair collected from a hairbrush be used?

Question 1 - What is a hair drug test? 

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.

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Question 2 - What time period does a standard hair test cover?

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 usually 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.

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Question 3 - What type of drugs can be detected in a standard hair test?

The typical hair drug test will include the five different drug classes:

1. Cocaine (cocaine & benzoylecgonine) - Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks Snow

2. Marijuana (THC-COOH) - Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Smoke, Weed

3. Opiates (Codeine, Morphine & 6-monacteyl morphine)

4. Amphetamines (Meth/amphetamines & Ecstasy) - Crank, Crystal, Class, Ice, Speed, Biphetamine, Dexedrine; Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts

5. Phencyclidine - PCP; Angel Dust, Boat, Hog, Love Boat

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.

IMPORTANT:  There are many off-the-shelf products that can cause a positive hair test.  For more information please go to false/positive dug test.

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Question 4 - Can body hair be drug tested like hair from the head?

Most often hair from ones head is used for hair 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.

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Question 5 - How much hair is needed?

Approximately 1.5 inches in length and about 40-50 strands cut from the scalp line at the crown (or when bundled, about the diameter of a shoelace tip.  The sample is most often taken from the scalp in order to gain a understanding of the last 90 days of use.  However, any part of the shaft can be sampled.  If one has hair down to their waist, this could mean you could test positive for when the hair was growing or maybe years since the last use as hair grows at a rate of about .5 inches per month  (I.E. a 12 inch sample would represent 12 months).

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Question 6 - What if I am almost bald or have very short hair?

Hair can be collected from any head location and combined to obtain the required amount of hair.  If the head hair is too short, body hair can be used as a substitute.  If body hair is used the timeframe represented by the test is approximately one year due to the different growth pattern in hair below the neck.  Head and body hair are not normally used in the same sample

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Question 7 - How effective is hair testing in detecting drug usage?

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.

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Question 8 - How do drugs get into hair?

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 <.

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Question 9 - Hair Drug Tests - Are They All Created The Same?

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.

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Question 10 - For Hair Drug Testing How Long Can Substances Be Detected?

As long as the part of the hair strand that was growing when you used the substance remains on your body. Remember, 1 inch of body hair is 12 months of growth and hair to your waist can be several years worth of growth.

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Question 11 - Can A Positive Result Be Caused By Contaminates In The Air Or Environment?

No.  The hair drug test looks for metabolites in the hair follicle. These can only be placed within the hair follicle after the contaminate has been metabolized by the body..

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Question 12 - Can Treatments Or Coloring Effect The Results?

Commonly used products (shampoos, conditioners, sprays, mousses and gels) usually have no significant effect.

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Question 13 - How soon after use can a drug be detected in hair?

It takes approximately 4-5 days from the time of drug use for the affected hair to grow above the scalp. Body hair growth rates are generally slower and are not normally utilized to determine a specific timeframe of drug use.

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Question 14 - Can hair collected from a hairbrush be used?

Most hair drug testing labs do not recommend taking a hair sample from a brush or any other source (e.g. pillow, clothing) as the sample may be contaminated and there is no guarantee that the hair is from the person being tested. Additionally, this would destroy any legal validity of the test results as proper chain of custody could not be established. If the test results are for solely for informational purposes only and not intended to be used legally (e.g. Parent testing their child). and further that the above risks are acceptable, hair taken from a hairbrush may be tested as long as the sample quantity and length is sufficient as specified in the test instructions.

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Please Read This Legal Disclaimer.  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 use, abuse or cheating on drug tests. Please follow your own conscience on these issues.  Because drug test laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change, the accuracy of the information contained in this web site is not guaranteed.  Any information provided is not intended to interpret the law or give legal advice.  Neither the authors nor publisher are engaged in rendering legal services.  Please see an attorney for any legal advice.  None of these conversations, products nor hypotheses have been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  None of the products proposed and/or provided are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Any registered trademarks are the property of the appropriate owners.