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positive4

I would like to start a sticky with general information about hair testing. I really don't know a whole lot about the specifics, so I am going to post some questions. I think there are a lot of people that have the same questions I do and could benifit from this information.


Q: How do drugs get into hair (what is the basis of hair analysis)
A: As drugs circulate in the blood stream, they enter and nourish hair follicle cells. As cells grow, they trap the drug molecules within the hair cells and are eventually "sealed" in the keratinized hair shaft. Thus, the amount and time the drug(s) are in the blood stream is proportional to the amount of drug detected in the hair (3). THC stays in your blood for 2-3 days (2).

Q: How soon after use can a drug be detected in hair?
A: It takes approximately 5-10 days from the time of drug use for the affected hair to grow above the scalp. (3)

Q: When THC metabolites are filtered into the hair do they create a ring around the hair follicle? Or does THC migrate along the shaft like cocaine does? The essential question being will cutting my hair short enough work?
A: ?

Hair testing requires a sample of hair about the diameter of a pencil and 1.5 inches long. They can not be done with a single hair. So approximately 50 strands of hair from the scalp are sent to a testing lab where it is liquefied. The hair sample is dissolved in a series of solvents which extract the drug metabolites and then are analyzed via GC/MS. It can take several hours to days just to extract metabolites. The liquid is run through the most sensitive GC/MS machines available, and can detect as little as 1 ng/mL.
Q: This was taken from Erowid and was originally published in 1998. Is it all still accurate?
A: ?

Q: How much hair do they need?
A: A standard screen with GC/MS confirmation requires 20 milligrams of hair or approximately 60 strands. (3)

Q: Can tests be run on people with little or no hair?
A: Yes, hair can be collected from several locations on the head and combined to obtain the required amount of hair. In addition, body hair can be used as an alternative to head hair. (3)

Q: Does body hair give the same type of results as head hair?
A: Yes, body hair can be used to test for the five standard drugs. Body hair growth rates are considerably more variable and slower than head hair. Most body hair is genetically controlled and replaced within one year. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately represent the time period of a standard screen with body hair. (3)

Q: How does the Testing Lab establish its cut-off levels?
A: Cut-off levels are established by the minimum detection levels for GC/MS confirmation. (3)

Q: What is the cut off level for cannabis in a hair test? (? pg/mL)
A: CARBOXY THC 1 pg/mg. (.001 ng/mL) (4)

Q: How many hits are required to get 1 pg/mL of Carboxy THC into your system?
A: "You need to smoke atleast 3 times over the tested time period for there to be enough THC to test positive." - Mustangabd (I found this in the "question about time period" thread? Is this really accurate.)

Q: So Mustangabd says three times over the time period. What if you have half inch hair, is it only one time then? 1 inch hair only two times then? 90 Days 1.5 inch hair meaning three times?
A: ?

Q: So if you have only smoked once in the last 90 Days, should you keep your hair long to dilute the sample?
A: ?

Q: How does alcohol affect THC? This is mainly for all the college students who drink a lot. Will drinking a lot of beer help you cleen your system out. Your taking a piss every 10 minutes, and drinking plenty of water if you want to avoid a hang over. On the other hand will drinking a lot of beer cause THC to be stored in the fat cells you gain from drinking beer (i.e. beer gut).
A: ?

[b]Q: Will using a shampoo or lotion with ingredients such as Hempseed Oil a(Cannabis Sativa) or similar cause a hair test to be positive.
A: ?

Q: How long does it take a lab to test a sample?
A: "4-5 business days" - mamasita
A: "Lab turnaround time is about 5 days - don't know if they count weekends or not." -RSXDSM


Test Cost
Hair Test: $150-$300
Urinalysis: ~$65
(Are these current prices?)

Hair Growth Information
Per Day: 0.44 mm, 0.0173228 inches
10 Days: 4.4 mm, 0.173228 inches
20 Days: 8.8 mm, 0.346457 Inches
30 Days: 13.2 mm, 0.519685 Inches
40 Days: 17.6 mm, 0.692913 Inches
50 Days: 22.0 mm, 0.866142 Inches
60 Days: 26.4 mm, 1.03937 Inches
How quickly does hair grow?

“On the eyebrows, the growing phase is only about 10 weeks, so eyebrow hairs never grow very long. Pubic and armpit hair growth rates are roughly similar, while leg hairs grow more slowly and are shorter.” So these types of hairs are replaced about every 10 weeks? Health News
"Armpit hair grows at about .3mm per day." -trapt
“A healthy scalp hair grows an average of half an inch or one centimeter per month.” Health News

Sassoon Clippers – Comb Cutting Attachments
#1: 3 mm, 0.125 inches
#2: 6 mm, 0.250 inches
#3: 9 mm, 0.375 inches
#4: 12 mm, 0.500 inches
#5: 16 mm, 0.625 inches
#6: 20 mm, 0.750 inches
#7: 25 mm, 1.000 inches
Inch - Metric Conversion


Shampoo Information

[edit]teufelfisch: Propylene glycol is the primary chemical in detox shampoos that removes carboxy-THC from hair.

There was some misinformation in the original version of this FAQ. EDTA will not help you pass a drug test. It removes metal ions from hair, and has little or no effect on lipophilic organic molecules like cannabinoids.[/edit]

Shampoos

Nexxus - Aloe Rid (Since so many people swear by this stuff I thought I would put the complete ingredient list down. Only one EDTA is present.) List: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil, Soybean (Glycine Soja) Sterol, Ceramide 3, Wheat Flour (Triticum Vulgare) Lipids, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Polysorbate 60, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Thiosulfate, Sodium PCA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090).

Aloe Rid Treatment (Nexxus.com says "Used with Aloe Rid Treatment to eliminate “chlorine green” and other pool or spa chemicals. Combats swimmer’s hair and chemical build-up.") List: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090).


Shampoo Note: Important Read!
"For every story of someone using a "home remedy" or so-called detox product and passing, there’s another story of someone else doing basically the same thing and failing. The truth is, it’s all a big crap shoot for people who have been regular users. The only guaranteed way to pass a hair is ABSTINENCE and TIME. Quit for about 90 days prior to being tested, and get 1 reasonably short hair cut PER MONTH to get rid of all the evidence." -RSXDSM “I think the consensus seems to be that “Detox Miracle Products" don’t work. Most people use the MacCuj0 method or a variation because it is cheep and has given good results to many people. Although not working for everyone. Using Nexxus Aloe Rid or Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three is an everyday treatment that relatively inexpensive and seems to aid in cleansing your hair of toxins. You have to wash your hair anyway so why not use one of the two or both. That is just my 2 cents.” –Positive4

Detox Shampoo Treatment
"I would also recomend Root Clean by Detoxify.. I personally know three pople who have passed a hair test with no other preperation." -UNLVmike
"I used Root Clean and failed." - hairtesthater
Clear Choice shampoo. I took the test and failed! - karmagirl010
"Q Clean Hair Detox, Failed" - ricky_williams9



Most of this information was found at Erowid. On two pages:
1 - Drug Testing FAQ
2 - Drug Testing Basics
Most of the FAQ stuff came from 3 - SACS Consulting
4 - Cutt Off Levels


Can anyone reading just make sure everything is accurate. Thanks


Other Drug Hair Test Information
Drug Test Cutoff Levels for the (GC/MS) Hair Follicle Test
Drug: picoograms per Milliliter (pg/ml)
Marijuana metabolite*: 1 pg/ml
Cocaine metabolite**: 300 pg/ml
Opiates: 500 pg/ml
Phencyclidine (PCP): 300 pg/ml
Amphetamines / Methamphetamine***: 300 pg/ml
MDMA (Ecstasy): 300 pg/ml

* Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid
** Benzoylecgonine
*** Specimen must also contain d-amphetamine at a concentration > 100 ng/ml

 

just1nce

Thanks for taking the time to do all that research! I'm sure your information will help someone!

JulzisNDenial

Sometimes Good Information Is Hard To Find!

grillmeats

Thanks for going through the trouble to research such a hard test to pass.

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Sec

Teufelfisch, I thought this thread might be the place to ask this. The above is from another thread and is a partial quote of one of your posts.

I was using a product called "UDDERLY SMOOTH" Udder Cream. I use it on my very dry heels and elbows. Works wonders for that purpose. It also works very well on cows udders during calving and milking as well; which is what it is made for. (I live in agriculture country). My point is, the product contains only 4 ingredients (listed as printed on the package):
Allantoin, Dimethicone, Lanolin Oil and Propylene Glycol in an Emmollient Base.

I don't know if that would work for a pre-test treatment for hair testing or not. It has got to be easier on your hair and scalp that the stripping effects of the super shampoos. Sort of like an oil treatment for the scalp and hair. It does contain the Propylene Glycol that is needed, I just don't know if it contains enough quantity to do any good.

Just a little FYI for ya. Have a good one!

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teufelfisch

Hmm, sorry I didn't see this earlier. I suspect that there wouldn't be enough propylene glycol in it to act as a detox method but it would be interesting to find out!!!!

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grillmeats

Ask the member to have a sample tested

SheilaG

I have been on this site for days now, I think I have read just about every thread. As a former Hairstylist I have some knowledge. I just looked at my Paul Mitchell Shampoo 3 bottle it does NOT have the Propylene Glycol in it, however my husband uses a professional product called Nioxin as it some potent stuff, originally for men with thinning hair as it stimulates the scalp this does have the PG in it. Just to let everyone know Nexxus went public which usually pisses hairstylists off, so if a salon sells Aloe-Rid treatment and you want it, better buy it as a lot of salons are going to stop carrying it. John Amico sells a product call "come back" very potent stuff to strip the hair. As I sit here and stress about my test next week I have very fine blond hair and I am just gonna go with the Nioxin as I know this is some powerful stuff. Also Malibu 2000 treatments are great as long as the process is done correctly, work the product in really well and lots of heat to open the shaft, also when rinsing product out of the hair use hot water as cool water closes the hair shaft back up and traps the product.

1tokeovertheline

The PM 3 has the three EDTA's that were originally reported to have an effect on the hair test results. Aloe Rid Treatment, Malibu 2000 and other so called "salon" products can be purchased at Rite Aid drug Stores. Interesting as a hair dresser you are going to use heat. A study quite a while back was started using heat with the Mac method and other treatments. Then the posters disappeared.

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"Ya know what I always say.................."~1Toke~
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SheilaG

Thanks for the info on PM3 didnt know thats what to look for. Yes I know those products can be bought at Rite-Aid and without posting unecessary info Hairstylist strongly oppose diversion of product a long standing debate in the industry. Hmmm... well heat opens the shaft, today I used vinegar and Nioxin cleanser, sat in the sun...burned like hell, not to mention I overclorinated my pool and soaked my hair in that...LOL... I will do the Mac method next week before my test. I have very fine hair and dont want to dissolve it with that "cleanser(pink stuff)", I gotta have some hair for them to test. Keep in mind I was a smoker for about 20 years and quit about a year ago hmmmm....well about a month ago I took 3 hits off a pipe and now I have the test on July 13th(45 days later), I think I am ok, but damn thats all I keep thinking about is failing this stupid hair test.