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Drug
testing, you can be sure, is not an exact science.
A great number of factors influence testing results.
Not all people are alike, nor are the drugs they
take alike. Some of the factors that influence test
results are: the individual's drug absorption rate,
metabolism rate, distribution in the body, excretion
rate, drug quantity, drug quality and testing method
employed.
Urine testing is probably the most common drug testing
procedure used today. Drugs, in order to be detected
in the urine must be absorbed, circulated in the
blood and deposited in the bladder. This process
takes approximately three hours for most drugs--except
alcohol--- which can take only 30 minutes. Thus,
an individual who was tested just 15 or 20 minutes
after using drugs would probably (but not always)
test negative unless he was a chronic user who would
have identifiable drug residue in his/her urine
at all times. Chronic users of marijuana, for example,
may test positive for marijuana use several months
after use of the drug.
Research conducted by Dr. Werner Baumgartner at
the Janus Institute in Los Angeles indicates that
human hair cells may be a more practical and accurate
way to test for drug use. The chemical properties
of most drugs are absorbed and stored in human hair
cells for months, possibly even decades after drug
use. Keeping in mind that hair grows at a constant
rate for most people, perhaps then, hair cut close
to the scalp could give a fairly accurate history
of drug use for a period of six months. Shampooing,
excessive sun and bleach do not appear to have any
effect on testing results. Look for an increase
in hair analysis drug testing. |
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