Drug Testing and Hair Follicle Analysis

Competitive Laboratory Information

With Psychemedics' success in the area of hair analysis for drugs of abuse, there are companies now purporting to provide testing similar to the accurate and effective methodology offered by Psychemedics. We are the most widely used hair test in the world and our patented hair analysis method provides the finest detection capabilities available. We also adopt procedures that serve as safeguards necessary for testing in the workplace. When other laboratories claim to provide hair testing similar to that offered by Psychemedics, you may wish to consider the following issues:

1.

Have scientific studies been conducted and published in peer reviewed literature which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of that particular lab’s hair analysis method?

Psychemedics’ scientists and independent researchers have published over 100 scientific articles demonstrating the accuracy of our patented method over the course of 15 years of research and development. Several independent studies have been conducted as well which show the efficacy of the decontamination procedures adopted by Psychemedics.

2.

Does the lab's method distinguish between drug ingestion and external contamination? External contamination could cause false positive results.

Psychemedics' combination of thorough washing, analysis of the wash, and metabolite identification provides our clients, (and the courts), with confidence that a positive result is evidence of drug ingestion, not external contamination. The analysis of the wash results provides certainty that any potential external contamination has been removed or accounted for. Other labs may claim that they, too, are able to distinguish between external contamination and drug ingestion, however, these same labs use a less effective and rigorous wash. (5 or 10 minutes compared to Psychemedics’ 3 hour and 45 minute wash in 6 chemical solutions).Studies have shown that anything short of several hours of washing is insufficient in removing potential external contamination. The failure of other labs to conduct a thorough wash of the sample, (and, most importantly, an analysis of the wash), puts client companies at risk for making an employment decision based on a potentially false positive result. Some labs may claim to distinguish contamination from ingestion through metabolite identification. However, while metabolite criteria is appropriate for some drugs, relying only on metabolite identification is an ineffective procedure to distinguish ingestion from exposure for other drugs. Ask the lab to produce independent contamination studies and court decisions on its methodology.

3.

Does the lab identify THC-COOH (carboxy THC) in reporting out positive marijuana results?

Carboxy THC, (THC-COOH), is a metabolite of marijuana that is not normally found in the environment or in smoke and, instead, is made by the body in processing the drug. Parent THC, on the other hand, may be found on the hair as a result of external contamination. While Psychemedics identifies only carboxy THC in reporting out marijuana positives, other labs fail to do so, thereby running the risk of reporting out false positive results. Some labs purport to “test” for THC-COOH, however, they will report out the easier to detect parent THC positive results, without the necessary THC-COOH.

4.

Does the lab digest or liquefy the hair to completely release all of the drugs?

Psychemedics uses patented digestion methods to liquefy the sample to release all the drugs present, which results in greater detection capabilities. Other labs may simply extract some drugs from below the hair surface with solvents, thereby leaving behind or destroying some of the drug present in the process. Because this type of solvent extraction is a less effective method, it opens up the possibility of drug users slipping through the employment process undetected.

5.

Does the lab cut the hair into tiny pieces prior to washing the sample?

Some labs cut the hair sample into tiny pieces prior to washing in order to facilitate the extraction of the drugs present by creating more accessible surface area. In cutting the hair into such small pieces prior to washing, any external contamination on the hair could permeate the entire sample, thereby defeating the purpose of the wash procedure. Psychemedics does not need to cut the hair samples submitted for routine analysis into tiny pieces, due to the effectiveness of its digestion method. Any external contamination is removed from the intact hair sample. Intact hair also allows for timeline interpretation, if necessary.

6.

Is the lab able to distinguish between d and l methamphetamine?

L methamphetamine can be found in Vick’s inhalers, as opposed to d methamphetamine, which is found only in the controlled substance. Psychemedics has the capability to distinguish between d and l methamphetamine in hair. This distinction clearly becomes important when an individual contests a positive methamphetamine result, and allows Psychemedics to certify a result with certainty.

7.

Will the laboratory methods stand up in court?

Over the course of the past 15 years, the scientific accuracy and reliability of the Psychemedics hair test has been routinely upheld in stateand federal courts, in administrative agency proceedings, and in arbitrations, (including those involving Teamsters, Steelworkers and Mineworkers). No other lab can even come close to the legal track record of Psychemedics in workplace hair testing and can only speculate that its test “may be” or “will be” upheld. Challenges to workplace drug testing can be brought by anyone for any reason or no reason and invariably involve a stand-alone drug test as the only evidence against an applicant or employee. This is a far different situation than the use of drug testing in criminal, probationary, marriage and military cases where the test is but one piece of evidence in the entire case. The issues most frequently brought in workplace hair testing claims involve external contamination and racial bias. Psychemedics’ ability to distinguish between ingestion and external contamination, as well as the test’s freedom of any bias, have been established consistently in legal proceedings.

8.

Has the lab maintained or participated in an independent Quality Control or Proficiency Testing Program for hair analysis? What were the results?

Psychemedics has participated in ongoing inter-laboratory comparison programs as well as round-robin studies and hair proficiency programs. Psychemedics has demonstrated 100% effectiveness in identifying positives and eliminating negatives in these programs. Additionally, Psychemedics implements a quality assurance program through which blind samples of known positives and known negatives are placed in a test batch along with applicant and employee samples. Results have indicated no false positives.

9.

How much experience does the lab have with hair analysis?

Psychemedics developed workplace hair testing and, with thousands of hair testing clients worldwide, is by far the leader in this field. We specialize in hair analysis, unlike most other laboratories for which hair testing is a sideline. Once again, Psychemedics has conducted millions of workplace tests for over 15 years and its methodology has been routinely upheld in legal challenges.

10.

Has the lab received FDA clearance on its hair testing assays?

The Food and Drug Administration, (FDA), has announced and published its requirements that all workplace testing be cleared by the FDA as accurate and reliable. All of Psychemedics assays have received 510(K) clearance. To date, only Psychemedics has received FDA clearance on any assays for the detection of drugs of abuse in hair. FDA review and clearance as “accurate and reliable” involved all aspects of our procedures including demonstration of decontamination capabilities.

1.
	Have scientific studies been conducted and published in peer reviewed literature which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of that particular lab’s hair analysis method?

	Psychemedics’ scientists and independent researchers have published over 100 scientific articles demonstrating the accuracy of our patented method over the course of 15 years of research and development. Several independent studies have been conducted as well which show the efficacy of the decontamination procedures adopted by Psychemedics.
2.
	Does the lab's method distinguish between drug ingestion and external contamination? External contamination could cause false positive results.

	Psychemedics' combination of thorough washing, analysis of the wash, and metabolite identification provides our clients, (and the courts), with confidence that a positive result is evidence of drug ingestion, not external contamination. The analysis of the wash results provides certainty that any potential external contamination has been removed or accounted for. Other labs may claim that they, too, are able to distinguish between external contamination and drug ingestion, however, these same labs use a less effective and rigorous wash. (5 or 10 minutes compared to Psychemedics’ 3 hour and 45 minute wash in 6 chemical solutions).Studies have shown that anything short of several hours of washing is insufficient in removing potential external contamination. The failure of other labs to conduct a thorough wash of the sample, (and, most importantly, an analysis of the wash), puts client companies at risk for making an employment decision based on a potentially false positive result. Some labs may claim to distinguish contamination from ingestion through metabolite identification. However, while metabolite criteria is appropriate for some drugs, relying only on metabolite identification is an ineffective procedure to distinguish ingestion from exposure for other drugs. Ask the lab to produce independent contamination studies and court decisions on its methodology.
3.
	Does the lab identify THC-COOH (carboxy THC) in reporting out positive marijuana results?

	Carboxy THC, (THC-COOH), is a metabolite of marijuana that is not normally found in the environment or in smoke and, instead, is made by the body in processing the drug. Parent THC, on the other hand, may be found on the hair as a result of external contamination. While Psychemedics identifies only carboxy THC in reporting out marijuana positives, other labs fail to do so, thereby running the risk of reporting out false positive results. Some labs purport to “test” for THC-COOH, however, they will report out the easier to detect parent THC positive results, without the necessary THC-COOH.
4.
	Does the lab digest or liquefy the hair to completely release all of the drugs?

	Psychemedics uses patented digestion methods to liquefy the sample to release all the drugs present, which results in greater detection capabilities. Other labs may simply extract some drugs from below the hair surface with solvents, thereby leaving behind or destroying some of the drug present in the process. Because this type of solvent extraction is a less effective method, it opens up the possibility of drug users slipping through the employment process undetected.
5.
	Does the lab cut the hair into tiny pieces prior to washing the sample?

	Some labs cut the hair sample into tiny pieces prior to washing in order to facilitate the extraction of the drugs present by creating more accessible surface area. In cutting the hair into such small pieces prior to washing, any external contamination on the hair could permeate the entire sample, thereby defeating the purpose of the wash procedure. Psychemedics does not need to cut the hair samples submitted for routine analysis into tiny pieces, due to the effectiveness of its digestion method. Any external contamination is removed from the intact hair sample. Intact hair also allows for timeline interpretation, if necessary.
6.
	Is the lab able to distinguish between d and l methamphetamine?

	L methamphetamine can be found in Vick’s inhalers, as opposed to d methamphetamine, which is found only in the controlled substance. Psychemedics has the capability to distinguish between d and l methamphetamine in hair. This distinction clearly becomes important when an individual contests a positive methamphetamine result, and allows Psychemedics to certify a result with certainty.
7.
	Will the laboratory methods stand up in court?

	Over the course of the past 15 years, the scientific accuracy and reliability of the Psychemedics hair test has been routinely upheld in stateand federal courts, in administrative agency proceedings, and in arbitrations, (including those involving Teamsters, Steelworkers and Mineworkers). No other lab can even come close to the legal track record of Psychemedics in workplace hair testing and can only speculate that its test “may be” or “will be” upheld. Challenges to workplace drug testing can be brought by anyone for any reason or no reason and invariably involve a stand-alone drug test as the only evidence against an applicant or employee. This is a far different situation than the use of drug testing in criminal, probationary, marriage and military cases where the test is but one piece of evidence in the entire case. The issues most frequently brought in workplace hair testing claims involve external contamination and racial bias. Psychemedics’ ability to distinguish between ingestion and external contamination, as well as the test’s freedom of any bias, have been established consistently in legal proceedings.
8.
	Has the lab maintained or participated in an independent Quality Control or Proficiency Testing Program for hair analysis? What were the results?

	Psychemedics has participated in ongoing inter-laboratory comparison programs as well as round-robin studies and hair proficiency programs. Psychemedics has demonstrated 100% effectiveness in identifying positives and eliminating negatives in these programs. Additionally, Psychemedics implements a quality assurance program through which blind samples of known positives and known negatives are placed in a test batch along with applicant and employee samples. Results have indicated no false positives.
9.
	How much experience does the lab have with hair analysis?

	Psychemedics developed workplace hair testing and, with thousands of hair testing clients worldwide, is by far the leader in this field. We specialize in hair analysis, unlike most other laboratories for which hair testing is a sideline. Once again, Psychemedics has conducted millions of workplace tests for over 15 years and its methodology has been routinely upheld in legal challenges.
10.
	Has the lab received FDA clearance on its hair testing assays?

	The Food and Drug Administration, (FDA), has announced and published its requirements that all workplace testing be cleared by the FDA as accurate and reliable. All of Psychemedics assays have received 510(K) clearance. To date, only Psychemedics has received FDA clearance on any assays for the detection of drugs of abuse in hair. FDA review and clearance as “accurate and reliable” involved all aspects of our procedures including demonstration of decontamination capabilities.