Hair Drug Testing
The only precision, legal drug test using exclusive DNAffirm technology on hair samples.
Gives quantitative results and level of drug use (if any) for:
• cocaine products and derivatives
• opiates and codeine derivatives (oxycontin etc.)
• amphetamine ans derivatives
• marijuana/hashish (THC)
• phencyclidine
The test provides a complete 90 day drug history and costs only $175.00. Sample Collection Kits are sent at no cost or obligation. They are complete, easy to use and include a pre-addressed return envelope for your convenience.
If you have any questions regarding the Sample Collection Kit, call 1-877-842-4827 (toll free) or 1-416-691-4167 (direct), (Mon-Fri / 9 AM - 5 PM EST).
Completely confidential.
Medical & Forensic Laboratory Results
The Accu-Metrics forensic drug test is a quantitative and optionally
anonymous analysis for the presence of illicit drug metabolites in the
core structure of human hair shafts. The drug abuse hair testing
analysis meets US, FDA, and international testing standards. Analysis results will indicate a negative or positive for each drug tested. Results are available within 5 business days upon receipt of a sample.
In-vitro urine, saliva, and blood drug test detection is limited to
the metabolic half life of drugs while in the body's system.
Abstinence for several days prior to a drug test using these media can
produce a negative result when in fact the individual has a history of
drug abuse. Sample hair is obtained by cutting a lock from the back
of the head at the root line. Since the average growth rate of hair
is one half inch per month, one and a half inches of hair length would
produce approximately a 90 day history of drug use. If required, a hair sample
collection kit can include documentation for a legal chain of custody procedure. Applicants may also have samples taken on site at our facility.
Please contact Accu-Metrics for any additional information.
Test Results
Test results indicate a negative or positive result for each drug or metabolite tested with readings expressed in picograms per milligram of hair. A negative test is defined as one below the permissible limits established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
|
HAIR DOSE RESPONSE* |
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|
Hair 5-Panel |
Cutoff Levels |
Low Use |
Medium use |
High use |
|
Amphetamines |
500 pg/mg hair** |
500-2500 pg/mg |
2500-7500 pg/mg |
7500+ pg/mg |
|
Cocaine |
500 pg/mg hair |
500-2000 pg/mg |
2000-10000 pg/mg |
10000+ pg/mg |
|
Opiates |
300 pg/mg hair |
300-1000 pg/mg |
2000-8000 pg/mg |
9000+ pg/mg |
|
Phencyclidine |
300 pg/mg hair |
300-500 pg/ml |
500-1000 pg/mg |
2000+ pg/mg |
|
Marijuana |
0.3 pg/mg hair |
Qualitative - Amount does not correlate to usage |
||
| *This
data was acquired from various academic studies with admitted drug users
and are thus subject to numerous sources of variability (e.g. purity,
inadequate self report, etc.). This graph is a guide only and not be
assumed as exact numerical interpretation. This information may be useful
to help establish an appropriate rehabilitation program or to compare two
separate test time periods. ** Picograms per milligram |
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Why are minimal drug levels considered a negative result?
We are often asked why test results are considered negative below a certain level.
The reason the world health organization and all national regulators have these levels is because these drugs exist in an infinite variety of products in minute quantities and are normally present in our bodies in these trace amounts
Foods, prescription and non-prescription drugs, illness, cosmetics, herbal products and even personal hygiene products are possible reasons for trace amounts and even false positives.
For example ibuprofen (Advil) can influence THC levels, inhalers and nasal sprays affect amphetamine results, and dextromethorphan, found in over the counter cough syrups may affect opiate levels.
Many of us are familiar with the fact that poppy seeds used in baking etc are a low level source of opiates, and the list goes on.
Viaguard relies on a process based on DNAffirm technology that identifies many of these false positives, so you can have complete confidence in our results.
Principles of Hair Drug Testing
The metabolites of chronic drug use, Illicit and repetitive is incorporated into hair for a period of about 90 days.
Drug avoidance for brief periods DOES NOT affect the results. The tests are not impacted by bleaching, hair colour, or shampoo.
The presence of drugs in hair is based on a simple principle. Drugs which are ingested circulate in the bloodstream which nourishes developing hair follicles. As a result, trace amounts of the target drug or drug metabolite are deposited in the hair follicle and become entrapped in the core of the hair shaft as it grows out from the hair follicle. Normal growth rates for human hair are approximately one-half inch per month. By testing for the presence of drugs in the hair shaft core on a given length of hair, a historical record of past drug usage can be constructed. Since target drug or drug metabolite residues are chemically and structurally stable for an extended period of time within the hair shaft core, they cannot be externally washed, bleached, chemically treated or flushed out of the hair structure. Consequently there is little possibility of sample contamination or manipulation. For this reason many courts and legal entities have chosen a forensic hair drug test as the preferred method of drug testing. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) forensic laboratory analysis of the hair shaft from an individual can achieve highly accurate drug test results and provide a historical use record. Generally it takes approximately 5 days for drugs to show up in a person's hair and they will continue to be detectable in the hair for several months.
Have more questions or concerns? Please visit our contact page.
To schedule an appointment or to arrange to send samples for testing please click here.
