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detection of illegal drugs has been an established procedure
in forensic toxicology since the mid-1990s. Once ingested,
opiates, cocaine, cannabinoides and amphetamines are metabolized
in the body and their breakdown products enter permanently
into the hair root from where they are deposited permanently
in the hair in characteristic relationships parent substance/metabolite.
Hair drug testing (HDT) is the most convenient and effective
way to measure historical use of drugs in an individual. When
drugs are consumed by an individual, some of the drug molecules,
or byproducts of drug metabolism, are incorporated into the
structure of the hair. By analyzing hair strands with a gas
chromatography / mass spectrometry (GCMS) equipment, the identity
of the drug molecules can be determined.
For individual drug testing prices, click
here.
The AbuseCheck™ Hair Drug Test is offered in
two bundles: A 5-panel bundle and a 9-panel bundle of the
most commonly abused drugs.
5 PANEL Hair Drug Test Includes:
- Amphetamines
- Methamphetamines (ecstasy)
- Cannabis (marijuana metabolites)
- Cocaine (and benzoylecgonine)
- Opiates (codeine, morphine, and 6-mam)
9 PANEL Hair Drug Test Includes:
- Amphetamines
- Methamphetamines (ecstasy)
- Cannabis (marijuana metabolites)
- Cocaine (and benzoylecgonine)
- Opiates (codeine, morphine, and 6-mam)
- Crack Cocaine
- Methadone
- Ketamin
- Zolpidem
 Our
drug testing panel uses industry-wide accepted cutoff levels
for each drug category. Positive signals are confirmed with
secondary testing to ensure accuracy.
The non-invasive sampling requires 200 strands of hair. The
longer the hair, the more information it provides. However,
hair is limited to testing in only short (1 to 3 mo) segments.
Acceptable lengths for 1 segment of head hair range from the
shortest being 1.5 cm (providing about 1 month of history)
to the longest being 3 cm (providing about 3 months of drug
use history). Therefore, testing 4 segments of 3 cm can give
you up to a year of drug use history. If head hair is not
available, body hair may also be used for testing and can
provide up to 1 year of drug use history.
For use in legal matters, the AbuseCheck™ HDT sample
collection must be performed by a third party following proper
chain of custody procedures. AbuseCheck has collection partners
throughout the US and can help arrange for a legal hair collection
for you.
4 Step Procedure:
- Order your AbuseCheck™ HDT or AbuseCheck™
Hair Testing Combination at www.abusecheck.com
- The collection materials will be mailed to you or the
collector
- Collect your sample in the privacy of your home (personal
testing) or at the collection location (legal testing)
- Your results are sent to you (personal testing) or directly
to the requesting party (lawyer, employer, etc…) within
10 business days from when your sample arrives in the laboratory.
Who is this test for?
- Employers: Drug testing as part of the
pre-employment screening process is becoming more widely
accepted. The liability, productivity and health issues
surrounding drug abuse in the workplace are important concerns
for employers.
- Parents of Teenagers: Parents who want
to test their teens to be certain that they are not abusing
drugs.
- Rehab Centers: Measure the effectiveness
of your program.
- For Legal Purposes: Prove your client
is fit to have custody of his/her children; for use in post-accident
testing to help determine possibility of accident being
influnced by drug abuse.
Benefits:
- Non-invasive sample collection.
- Test provides a historical record of drug abuse of up
to 90 days for each segment, depending on length of hair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Hair Drug Abuse
Test
How much hair is needed for the hair drug test?
At least 60 milligrams of hair is needed for the hair drug
test. This equals about 90-120 strands of hair (we perfer
200 strands), depending on the thickness of the hair. The
hair must be at least 1.5 cm (or 0.6 inches) in length. If
no head hair is available, body hair may be used.
What is the difference between the hair drug test
and hair alcohol test?
The AbuseCheck™ hair alcohol test detects fatty acid
ethyl esters (FAEEs), byproducts of alcohol metabolism, while
the hair drug test detects 5 of the most common drug molecules
and metabolites. The tests also require different amounts
of sample, with the HAT requiring slightly more hair.
Can I take both the AbuseCheck™ Hair Alcohol
Test and the Hair Drug Test?
Yes. You can order the two tests separately, or order the
AbuseCheck™ Hair Testing Combination. Two separate hair
samples will need to be collected, one for each test. The
collections can occur at the same time.
Is the hair drug test accepted in court?
The hair drug test is widely accepted by the legal system.
Can hair treatments alter the hair drug test results?
No. Treatment of hair with hair products or hair coloring
chemicals will not affect the accuracy of the hair drug test.
How does a hair drug test compare to a urine test?
Drug molecules and metabolites remain in the urine 2-3 days
after drug use, while these molecules are permanently embedded
in the structure of the hair. Therefore, analysis of hair
samples gives a historical record of drug use up to 90 days.
How long after drug use can the drugs be detected
in hair?
Drugs can be detected in head hair about 2 weeks after use.
This is how long it takes for the hair to grow above the scalp.
Additional Information
& Forms:
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