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1. What methodology is used?
- A two-tiered testing process is used:
- A portion of the Hair sample is first screened using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), a proven reliable methodology
for routine drug testing.
- Any samples that are presumptively positive in the screening process are then confirmed, utilizing another portion of
the hair sample, using either gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry
(GC/MS/MS).
2. What is ELISA?
- ELISA is an acronym for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ELISA assays are heterogeneous non-isotopic assays that
usually have an antibody immobilized onto a solid support. The ELISA assay uses a microtiter plate that has the antibody
to the drug, drug metabolite or drug class coated to each well of the microtiter plate.
3. Is ELISA forensically defensible?
- Yes, the technology is well established and has been used in many formats for the analysis of drugs of abuse, therapeutic
drug monitoring (TDM) and serology (antibody tests) and blood banking procedures. Furthermore, ELISA technology is used
extensively in the pharmaceutical industry for new drug screening and development.
4. What drugs are tested with Hair testing?
- The drugs tested are: Marijuana, Opiates, Cocaine, Amphetamines and PCP. Ecstasy is reported under the "Amphetamines"
group.
5. Does Hair testing detect oxycodone or other synthetic opiates?
- No, the Hair testing procedures do not target oxycodone or other synthetic opiates.
6. Will tests results really reflect 90 days use of drugs?
- Hair follicles underneath the scalp are surrounded by a dense network of capillary blood vessels. Drugs in the bloodstream
are able to incorporate and bind to the hair follicles underneath the scalp. It takes approximately three (3) to ten
(10) days for hair containing drugs to reach the outer environment on top of the scalp to be collected based on the average
rate of head hair growth. Head hair grows approximately 1.3 cm or 1/2 inch per month. The standard length of hair
tested by the laboratory is the first 3.9 cm or 1 1/2 inches form the root end. Therefore, a hair analysis of 1 1/2
inches covers a time span of approximately ninety (90) days and detects a pattern of drug use over this time-frame.
Many employers find it useful to test BOTH hair and urine for pre-employment purposes. Urine testing is useful for detecting
recent or new drug use (the last 1-3 days except Marijuana which is longer) and hair testing for providing an approximate
three-month drug history. We recommend that in cases involving court-related issues, juvenile cases, child custody,
etc. that a hair test be paired with a urine test. This ensures that any recent usage is detected
by the urine test, and drug usage for the approximate ninety day period be detected by the hair test.
7. Can Hair testing be beaten?
- Our laboratory has not found any adulterants that can beat the test at this time. Moreover, the risk is minimized
because every collection is directly and easily observed.
8. How are hair samples collected?
- The test requirements are 100 mg of hair per inch and a half by weight. Hair weight varies among individuals.
We typically collect a sample which is approximately 2-3 strands deep and is 1/2 in width. This amounts to a diameter
the size of a shoe string or broom stick straw. The hair is collected as discreetly as possible by parting the hair
underneath the top hair in the crown of the head.
- If the donor has no head hair or hair is shorter than 1/2-inch long, other sources of hair are chest, underarm, leg, arm or
face hair.
9. Can Hair testing be used for Department of Transportation (DOT) testing?
- No, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has not approved Hair testing at this time.
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