In addition, the Testing Lab will NOT analyze pubic hair for the presence of the THC-COOH metabolite. In fact, normal hair washing helps to remove external contamination. Extensive bleaching, perming and dyeing may damage the protein matrix of hair allowing a portion of the drug from the hair to be extracted, lowering the final quantitative result with certain drugs. Treated hair results will be reported indicating that the correlation between the extent of drug use and the quantitative result were affected. Negative hair is stored for one month.
Positive hair is stored for one year.
All laboratory records and test results are kept for a three year period. The Testing Lab has worked closely with customers who have been challenged or named in lawsuits based on action taken from positive hair analysis results. The Testing Lab's forensic experts have qualified as expert witnesses in Ohio, New York State, California, Texas, Nevada, Alabama and Arizona in over 250 civil, criminal, and Superior Court trials. Currently, nicotine, methadone, simple benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, assays and mescaline have been detected in hair. However, many details such as cutoff levels and dose response relationships have not yet been established for these compounds.