Hair Testing: Who To Trust?

Hair Testing is becoming a more common and sought-after method of finding out whether a person has taken a certain drug, or you having to prove that you haven’t taken the drug(s). Why? Because a “urine” test only detects what’s in the system at the time of testing, whereas hair testing can detect historical consumption.

This is becoming a standard request in a custody dispute and, in the heat of the battle with your former partner, it is easy for someone to make an accusation with no basis whatsoever. Why? Because comments like that hurt and cast doubt over the other’s ability to parent and that is an effortless way to score points.

There are several companies offering hair testing solutions, so who can you trust?

We have been contacted by several solicitors asking for advice on a particular test and we have been shocked after discovering some of the methods used.

On one occasion, a company was using a home testing kit designed for self-confirmation, passing it off as a reliable commercial test in the process. Sure, it’s cheap, but we made an honest evaluation of the method and the Court quickly rejected the test and ordered the party to undergo another one from a reputable company. This placed extra costs on the person involved and wasted a considerable deal of time and money.

Another thing to consider is the “cut off” limits by the lab. Some companies use a lab with a much higher cut off limit. This will always raise questions as to what the person hiding. Are they still using even at low levels? For example, most of the companies that do the testing send theirs to a lab in the USA where the cut off levels for Methamphetamine is set at 500pg/mg (0.5ng/mg). We send our samples to the UK where the cut off limit is 200pg/mg (0.2ng/mg). The Courts know that, when a test comes from our lab, there is no doubt as to use of any kind and that gives credibility to your results.

Finally, we are potentially the only company in New Zealand that tests for individual drugs at a reasonable price.

Most other companies do a 5-panel test which tests Opiates, Cannabis, Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Amphetamines. However, in most cases, the Courts aren’t interested in drugs like Cannabis and, if you have consumed cannabis within the time-frames, it could lead to embarrassment and or extra scrutiny that otherwise wasn’t required.

With us, if all that is required is a test for Methamphetamine, then that’s all we test for. If you are needing the other drugs tested too? Then that’s fine, we can administer those tests also. Furthermore, we can test for drugs that others cannot. We can do hair tests for Alcohol, Ketamine, GHB (and other “date rape” drugs), and so forth. you name it, we’ll have it tested.

So, before making a decision on who to choose to have your sample analysed, give us a call at The DTC and we’ll walk you through the process in a simple and cost-effective way.