Hair Drug Test
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What a Hair Drug Test is, how a Hair Drug Test works and how to Pass a Hair Drug Test
Hair Drug Test
Additionally, for pre-employment hair testing, the inability to obtain a sample may be grounds for not hiring the individual. Hair Testing labs are regulated by CLIA or SAMHSA (not FDA). There is a growing trend in major companies and law enforcement agencies to utilize hair analysis on 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 Drug Testing - The New Standard?
 | A hair drug test is generally considered non-invasive, is extremely accurate and results will stand up in a court of law when the chain of sample is properly documented.
With this kind of modern and convenient method, it is now easy for schools and even employers to test students and employees to determine whether or not they have drugs in their system. Hair drug tests come in handy kits with instructions on how to get hair specimens, and then send it to the laboratory for evaluation. |
Why Hair Drug Testing Works
According to studies, when a person takes in drugs, as with any other substances, such as food, medicines, or drinks, it mixes with our blood, and as we all know, the blood nourishes all parts of our body, including the head. Hints of these chemicals then become trapped or filtered through the hair follicle, thus, as the hair grows, these chemicals are stored in the hair. Interestingly, these chemicals become a part of the hair itself.
Hair Drug Test Characteristics
* Are currently several times more expensive than urine tests (~$100-$150). * Are considered a relatively unobtrusive method of drug testing. * Detect substance use over a longer period (see detection period). * Do not usually detect use within the past week. * Require a sample of hair about the diameter of a pencil and 1.5 inches long. They can not be done with a single hair. * Test positive a little more than twice as often as a urine test. In a recent study, out of 1823 paired hair and urine
samples, 57 urine samples tested positive for drugs of abuse; while 124 hair samples from the same group tested positive. * Are not significantly affected by brief periods of abstinence from drugs. * Can sometimes be used to determine when use occurred and if it has been discontinued. Drugs, such as opiates (codeine,
morphine, heroin) lay down on the hair shaft very tightly and are shown not to migrate along the shaft, thus, if a long segment
of hair is available one can draw some "relative" conclusions about when the use occurred. However cocaine, although very easy
to detect, is able to migrate along the shaft; making it very difficult to determine when the drug was used and for how long. * Claims to be able to reliably differentiate between opiate and poppy seed use. * We've heard that many hair tests now check for more than the NIDA 5, and include at least Cannabis, Ecstasy/MDMA,
Cocaine, Opiates, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Phencyclidine (PCP), Benzodiazepines, & Barbiturates (2001).
How Hair Drug Testing Is Done
- A hair drug test involves cutting a minimum of 50 strands of hair
- Hair must be cut approximately one and a half inches from the scalp
- Hair is then sent to the drug testing laboratory
- The hair is actually screened and reviewed, then liquefied for final testing
- Results are returned to the entity that ordered the hair drug test.
Hair Drug Test Inaccuracies
While hair tests are usually used as a secondary test or in cases of criminal offenses, there is a growing number of schools and businesses that are using hair tests instead of urine tests. If the method is hair testing, it is much more likely that a nonuser will test positive, especially if the test subject is a person of color. Just walking through a room where there is marijuana smoke could result in a positive hair test. Coarser hair absorbs and maintains the tell-tale signs much more than fine hair.
Hair Drug Test FAQ
What is Hair Drug Test?
Hair drug testing is the newest method of drug testing to be embraced by the drug testing industry.
What is RIAH (Radioimmunoassay of hair)?
Psyche medics’ proprietary method for detecting drugs in hair using radioimmunoassay. RIAH measures the drug molecules permanently entrapped in the hair following ingestion.
How sensitive is hair testing in detecting drug users?
Comparison studies have proven that Hair testing can be as much as 5-10 times more effective in identifying drug users than urinalysis.
What drugs are included in a standard test?
Cocaine (including crack), marijuana, opiates (including heroin), amphetamines
How fast does head hair grow?
Hair collected at the crown of the head grows on the average of approximately 1.3 cm (or 1/2 inch) per month. This growth rate varies among people by approximately + .2 cm per month which can create a possible time variation of up to +1 week per month.
Can body hair be drug tested like hair from the head?
Body hair can be drug tested just as hair from the head. The growth rates for body are considerably slower than the hair from your head. Most body hair is replaced in about one year. It is challenging to precisely represent the time period of a standard screen with body hair so substances may be detected in body hair for up to 1 year after the substance left the blood stream.
How much hair is needed?
A standard screen with GC/MS confirmation requires 40+ milligrams of hair or approximately 50 - 70 strands that are up to 3.9cm (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.
Passing a Hair Drug Test
Passing a hair follicle drug testing can be quite hard, and as with any drug test, there can be false positive test results. Bleaching or dying one’s hair is rumored to work, but it really doesn’t. Shaving the head doesn’t work either, because the testing agency will simply use hair on other parts of the body. Even a whole body shave will not evade the drug test, because the hair that grows back is just as good as the hair preceding it. Suffice it to say, once its in, its in.
There are products in the marketplace specifically designed to pass a hair drug test. These are commonly referred to as 'hair follicle shampoos'. When selecting such a product make sure you choose a reputable company. Some things to look for are:
- Do they offer a money back guarantee?
- Do they answer their phone or emails?
- Is the website fully functional?
- If store bought is the clerk familiar with the product?
Most of the hair follicle shampoos on the market do work. However, make sure you can get in touch with someone should you need support.
How to pass a hair drug test
There is no easy way to pass a hair drug test other by the use of a hair follicle shampoo. These shampoos are designed specifically to pass a hair drug test and accomplish this by stripping toxins from the hair follicle shaft.
Once again, some individuals have been known to shave their heads in an effort to thwart having to take a hair drug test. This attempt is usually for naught because the hair sample required for the test can be removed from any part of the body including pubic, armpit and chest hairs.
External Links
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See Also
Pass A Drug Test
Drug Testing
Drug Test
Drug Testing In The Workplace
Drug Test Detection Times
Drug Testing Methodologies
Types Of Drug Testing
