A. Omega uses a "common sense" principle that gives test participants a fair shake. Omega utilizes a higher cut-off level than some labs for a positive reading, to determine a true positive and preclude any question of doubt. In order to screen positive, micro amounts of drugs must be present as opposed to ultra trace amounts.

A. Studies indicate that hair collected at the crown of the head grows on the average approximately 1.3 cm (or 1/2 inch) per month. This growth rate varies.

A. A standard screen with GC/MS confirmation requires 20 milligrams of hair or approximately 60 strands.

A. There is a wider window of detection with hair analysis. Cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and PCP are rapidly excreted and usually undetectable in urine 72 hours after use. The detection period for hair is limited only by the length of the hair sample and is approximately 90 days for a standard screen. Additional advantages include non-intrusive collection procedures, virtual elimination of test evasion; greater accuracy through test repetition. The combination of an increased window of detection and resistance to evasion makes hair far more effective than urinalysis in correctly identifying drug users.

A. It takes approximately 5-10 days from the time of drug use for the affected hair to grow above the scalp.

A. In most situations the minimum time period is approximately one month. Due to variability of hair growth rates, EIA cannot go back in time to determine if an individual used drugs on a particular day or week.

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.

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.

A. No, Omega requires a hair sample to be collected using proper chain-of-custody protocols that will withstand a legal challenge. Omega requires that the sample be submitted with Omega Sample Acquisition Materials. The test subject must initial the sample to certify the authenticity of the sample at the time of collection.

A. In general, cut-off levels (the amount of drug detected to cause a positive result ) for urinalysis have been established to reduce the possibility of an evidential false positive due to passive inhalation. A true comparison of hair/urine cut-off levels is impossible, since the time frame differs (90 days vs. 3 days). SAMHSA's recommended cut-off levels for forensic urinalysis tests are expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) of urine. Hair cut-off levels are expressed in nanograms per milligram (ng/mg) of hair.

A. After hair is received and handled according to chain of custody protocol, it is chemically prepared and drugs of abuse and/or metabolites are extracted. The extraction solution is screened by enzyme immunoassay and negatives are reported as such. Samples with extracts showing positive results, are prepared again and then are chemically washed to remove any drug or other possible contamination on the external hair shaft. The last wash is retained for analysis. If the last wash still contains external sgnificant drug amounts (above 10% of the confirmation value,) it is considered contaminated and an "unable to decontaminate" report is issued. The sample is then chemically prepared once again and the particular drug in question is extracted and analyzed using state of the art Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). All tests are performed using controls and calibrators to ensure forensically defensible results are obtained.

A. Omega provides automatic confirmation for all specimens that screen positive screen (opiates, PCP, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana).

A. Enzyme-immunoassay antibodies (EIA), similar to those used to test urine, are used for the initial screening test for drugs of abuse; therefore the potential for substances such as over-the-counter medications to cause a false positive screening result does exist. To eliminate the possibility of reporting a false-positive due to cross-reactivity, Omega automatically confirms by GC/MS all positive results for methamphetamine, opiates, PCP, cocaine and marijuana.

A. In side-by-side comparison studies with urinalysis, the cocaine, PCP, opiates, and methamphetamine assays have proven hair analysis far more effective than urine in identifying low-level drug use. The marijuana screen is currently less sensitive than the other drugs in identifying low level drug users but is considered roughly equal to urinalysis in identifying marijuana users.

A. All hair samples that produce a positive screening result are washed extensively to remove external contamination and re-screened for the potential positive drug. If the secondary hair screen is positive and the ratio of the wash solution is greater than 10% of the confirmation result, Omega will consider this sample contaminated. If the ratio of the wash solution is less than 10% of the confirmation result, Omega will consider the sample to be positive. Marijuana does not follow the wash patterns of the other drugs. To rule out the possibility of external contamination for marijuana, Omega exclusively detects ONLY the metabolite (THC-COOH) which is only produced by the body and cannot be an environmental contaminant. In addition, Omega will not analyze pubic hair for the presence of the THC-COOH metabolite.

A. Commonly used hair products (e.g. shampoos, conditioners, sprays, mousses and gels) have no significant effect on hair results. 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 can be readily identified utilizing staining or other special procedures. Treated hair results will be reported indicating that the correlation between the extent of drug use and the quantitative result were affected.

A. Omega's internal chain-of-custody is modeled after the requirements in the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines.

A. The hair not used from the time period being tested (i.e. three months equals 3.9 cm) and all remaining hair is stored in the chain-of-custody sample acquisition pouch. Negative hair is stored for one month. Positive hair is stored for one year.

A. All laboratory records and test results are kept for a three-year period.

A. Omega has worked closely with customers who have been challenged or named in lawsuits based on action taken from positive hair analysis results. To date, based in part on Omega's chain-of-custody documentation and ability to provide valid and reproducable re-tests, all threats or lawsuits were dropped.

A. Omega Laboratory'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.

A. 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.

A. Racial bias suggests that different racial groups will incorporate drugs into hair at different rates as compared to another racial group. Hair color is determined by the amount of pigment (melanin) contained in the shaft. Some studies have suggested that melanin retains drug traces differently, depending on the amount of melanin in the hair.

It is true that racial bias of hair is still one of three areas of controversy (contamination, method of action and racial bias). The theory is that dark pigmented hair contains more and different types and ratios of melanin. It has been shown experimentally that some drugs tend to bind to melanin, thus the more melanin there is the more drug binding occurs. This means that dark-haired or africoid individuals in theory should absorb more and/or retain more drugs than lighter or fair haired people.

Some studies have compared small numbers of individuals by giving each the same dose of drug and then analyzing drug amounts in their hair samples. The results are inconclusive but did suggest that darker-haired people retained a higher drug concentration than did light-haired people.

However, it still has not been determined that, if everything else is equal, the African-American person will test positive and the white person test negative. This is not a true and valid phenomena, because it has not shown up consistently in over 3-plus million hair tests that have been performed. It is highly probable that negligible differences in hair type are contained to the laboratory environment and do not significantly impact actual drug test results. In most cases, variable results between the races can be attributed to societal habits and drug preference.

A. As drugs circulate in the blood stream, they enter and nourish hair follicle cells. As the 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.

A. Drugs that are deposited on the hair shafts by any means (dust, sweat, combs, etc) are considered external contaminants. These contaminants must be removed prior to testing. False positves can result from external contamination. If the hair is not "washed" well, drugs can adhere to the outside of the hair and be falsely considered as an internal drug. Omega will analyze the last wash to determine if there is still drug present. When the amount of drug present is less than 10% of the total, the hair is considered a valid positive. If the amount of drug present is greater than 10% of the total, the hair is considered "contaminated." Ex. total = 150 ng/10 mg hair, last wash = 9 ng/10mg hair - the hair is positive. Ex total = 150 ng/10mg hair, last wash = 17 ng/10mg hair - the hair is contaminated.

A The company has the greater right to ensure and provide a safe work environment within the parameters of a written drug/alcohol testing policy, which may or may not include drug testing. Additionally, a drug policy should be supported with a strong Employee Assitance Program with the express goal of salvaging the workforce through treatment. A good drug policy paired with hair testing and/or background checks is an enormous benefit to productivity, morale and safety. Employees should check state laws regarding drug testing when creating or revising drug policies. There may be individual state restrictions.