subject: Matrix Hair Color | Professional hair color [print this page] Hair drug test is a technical analysis of hair, to identify and determine the presence or absence of specific parent drugs or metabolites thereof. This kind of drug test is generally performed to detect the use of performance enhancing drugs and steroids by athletes and sports persons as well as to detect consumption of illegal drugs such as Cocaine, Cannabis, Heroin, Opium, etc. Nowadays, random drug testing in the workplace is conducted quite often, to expose employees who are inconspicuous drug abusers and enroll them in drug rehab programs. The following discussion of hair drug testing facts open up a world of astounding information relating to drug abuse and how a hair sample can betray the same!
Before jumping directly to hair drug testing facts, let us first take a brief glance at what exactly hair follicle drug test is. In a hair drug test, a small sample of hair, either from the head or any other part of the body (excluding pubic regions), are examined to identify specific drugs used by the subject over a period of time. The test measures the drug molecules and their specific metabolites, trace amounts of which are found in the hair follicles. Let us see how the drug metabolites get deposited in the hair follicles. After a substance reaches the human digestive system, it undergoes all the metabolic processes and releases nutrients and/ or by products, metabolites in case of drugs, that are carried by the blood to different parts of the body. As the blood circulates to all body parts, including hair, it deposits these metabolites in hair follicles which find their way to hair strands, thereby, making their presence conspicuous. Now, let us get to the facts about hair follicle drug testing.
Some Hair Drug Testing Facts
Hair Drug Testing Accuracy: Hair drug test information is found to be far more accurate than urine sample analysis when testing for presence of drugs such as cocaine, PCP, opiates and methamphetamine and is considered more effective for detecting low level drug use over a long period of time as compared to urine and saliva tests. This is because, the drug metabolites are flushed out of the blood stream every three to seven days whereas they can remain trapped in hair follicles for years! Detecting low level use of marijuana through hair drug test is comparatively less sensitive than detecting cocaine and opiates but is considered equally, if not more, effective as urine test.
Hair Drug Test Cost: One of the most encouraging hair drug testing facts is that it costs lesser than most other conventional drug test methods. Besides, it is also the least invasive method and allows for testing of a large number of potentially interacting toxic or narcotic elements at one time.
