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Why You Should Choose a Hair Follicle Drug Test for Your Teen

Written by Megan on July 26, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Drug addiction is rampant in this day and age. As unfortunate as it sounds, more and more teenagers are becoming addicted to drugs. As if parents do not already have their hands full enough with raising a typical teen – add in drug abuse and situations can quickly escalate out of control. Fortunately, as a parent, you have options to help keep your teen on the right track. With a hair follicle drug test, you can make sure that your teen is clean and sober.
The Biggest Benefit of a Hair Follicle Drug Test

You may be wondering why you need a hair follicle drug test as opposed to a urine drug test. The reasons is that many drugs only show up for a certain amount of time. So, if your teen was abusing cocaine last month and you give them an over-the-counter urine drug test, you will never know about the cocaine. Since drug metabolites stay in the hair follicle for an extended amount of time, you can get a more accurate analysis of the drugs in your teen’s system – up to as much as a 90-day window. You simply cannot afford to take any risks when it comes to your child’s health and well-being. Let About My Health help you help your child with a private, cost-efficient drug screening.

Posted in Drug Testing, Hair Follicle Drug Test | Tagged Why You Should Choose a Hair Follicle Drug Test for Your Teen

Uncover a Relapse with a Hair Follicle Test

Written by Megan on July 24, 2012 — Leave a Comment

If you have a loved one that has recently came home after a stay in a drug rehabilitation facility, you need to understand the importance of drug screens. Recovering from a drug addiction is not easy, especially when the recovering addict comes back to familiar surroundings. No longer are they safe in the protected environment of rehab. Now, they must face old friends and old habits – and they must be strong enough to stay clean. If you suspect that a loved one has relapsed, you may want to consider having a hair follicle test performed.

A hair follicle test will screen for drugs with a timeframe of up to 90-days. This means you get more accurate results than with a urine screening. While drug testing a loved one should not necessarily be your first choice, in some instances, you have no other options. For example, if your spouse is a recovering addict, you need to ensure that he or she is staying clean – not only for your well-being, as well as their own, but also for the well-being of your children. If you suspect a relapse, talk to your loved one first. Together, you can decide if a drug screening is necessary.

Posted in Drug Testing, Hair Follicle Drug Test | Tagged Uncover a Relapse with a Hair Follicle Test

What is HPV?

Written by Megan on November 14, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: What is HPV? A girl I’ve been sleeping with told me she has it – should I be worried? How do you get checked for it?

-Matt, Brooklyn, NY

A: HPV stands for human papillomavirus, and it is possibly the most common STD in the United States. HPV is known for causing genital warts, as well as warts elsewhere on the body. There are over one hundred different strands of HPV, and generally each strand is responsible for warts in different parts of the body. For example, the strand that causes warts on people’s hands is different than the strand that causes warts in the genitals.

Out of those 100+ strands, over forty of them can be responsible for genital warts – which is what most people are more concerned with. The difficult thing with HPV is that because there are so many different strands, it is impossible to test for it with a blood specimen as you can for something like genital herpes. Simply put, you must have symptoms in order to be diagnosed. Symptoms of genital warts are extremely similar to any other warts someone might have. They tend to be flesh-like in color and are harder in texture than the surrounding skin. Sometimes the symptom is a single wart by itself, and other times it may be a cluster of warts that can develop a cauliflower-like look. They tend to not be painful unless picked, scratched, or otherwise irritated – but some individuals with HPV report a slight itching sensation.

As with almost every STD, it is possible to contract HPV and then not show any symptoms for an extended period of time – in fact many women do not know they have it until their annual Pap smear shows evidence of infection. It can be frustrating for many people, especially if they’ve been in a relationship with someone who suddenly comes back with it. If symptoms are present, a culture test can be performed to identify what exactly is causing them.

It’s probably nothing to be extremely concerned about in your case, Matt, but it would be in your best interest to speak with your partner and her doctor about what precautions you can take to avoid transmission. There are a variety of medications available that can help, and of course be on the look out for anything that could be considered a symptom. If you think you have spotted something make an appointment to have it looked at as soon as possible.

Hope this helps!

Posted in HPV Infection | Tagged Genital Herpes, genital warts, HPV, Symptoms

Hypothesis of snake and insect venoms against Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a review

Written by Megan on November 8, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Abstract
Background

Snake and insect venoms have been demonstrated to have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases including drug resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We evaluated and hypothesized the probable mechanisms of venoms against HIV.
Methods

Previous literatures published over a period of 30 years (1979-2009) were searched using the key words snake venom, insect venom, mechanisms and HIV. Mechanisms were identified and discussed.
Results & Conclusion

With reference to mechanisms of action, properties and components of snake venom such as sequence homology and enzymes (protease or L- amino acid oxidase) may have an effect on membrane protein and/or act against HIV at multiple levels or cells carrying HIV virus resulting in enhanced effect of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). This may cause a decrease in viral load and improvement in clinical as well as immunological status. Insect venom and human Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) have potential anti-viral activity through inhibition of virion entry into the cells. However, all these require further evaluation in order to establish its role against HIV as an independent one or as a supplement.

The complete article can be found at AIDS research and Therapy.

Posted in HIV and AIDS

Symptoms of Chlamydia – Never Had Any, Never Cheated, But Somehow I Got It

Written by Megan on November 8, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: I have been with the same guy for 5 years. I never cheated and I never had symptoms of chlamydia, but all of a sudden I go to the doctor and boom- I have chlamydia. He was tested and it came back negative. How is this possible? He cheated but he does not have the infection.

A: Hello,

If you have been together for five years and you have never gone outside of the relationship, there are only a few possibilities.

One option is that you had chlamydia from a previous relationship, but didn’t know until now. This option is highly unlikely – if you have been tested since you started the relationship you most likely would have known by now. With a chlamydia test, only exposures in the past week or so may not show up. Plus, if you have ever had unprotected sex with your current boyfriend he would come back positive also. Chlamydia is a bacteria that is transmitted extremely easily, almost immediately from the point of penetration. It’s not all that uncommon for people to not show symptoms of chlamydia right away, but going five years without symptoms is uncommon. By this point you would be almost certainly be showing some more serious complications, possibly with irreversible damage to your reproductive system.

Another option is that your boyfriend failed to follow proper precautions for testing. Men are directed to avoid urination for at least one hour before getting a test for chlamydia. This is because the bacteria that causes chlamydia gets flushed out of the urethra every time someone uses the restroom. If he did not do this, the bacteria could have been flushed out and reduced to an undetectable level before testing. If he tested with a urine sample, also be sure that he did the “first catch” of the urine stream. This means that he should have urinated directly into the specimen cup, as opposed to in the toilet first and then into the cup. If he failed to do this, once again the bacteria could have been reduced to an undetectable level.

The last option is that your boyfriend received chlamydia when he cheated, but then got it treated before confronting you. Telling a partner you cheated is difficult, but telling them that you cheated and gave them an STD is even worse. You should discuss these possibilities with your boyfriend, and possibly consider having him retested and treated. If there is any possibility that he still has chlamydia and you are still being sexually active with each other, you could end up transmitting the bacteria back and forth between yourselves. Hopefully this helps with your situation and good luck.

Posted in Chlamydia

STD Testing Phoenix

Written by Megan on November 4, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Hello, I just moved to Phoenix and I want to know where I can get STD testing. Any suggestions?

– Trevor, Phoenix, AZ

There are a couple different options when it comes to STD testing in Phoenix. Actually there are a variety of options when it comes to testing anywhere.

Many people get their testing done through their local health department. The health department usually has some type of first-come first-serve clinic where they will do a limited screen of STDs. Typically this screen will include a test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The good thing about the health department is that is usually low cost or free. The not-so-good thing is that they usually have limited hours of operation, so getting seen can take a while and sometimes results can take as much as a couple weeks. If cost is a major concern, do an internet search for “local health department (zip code).”

If speed and privacy are priorities, you might consider testing through a private online company. In most cases all it takes is a name and date of birth to get you registered, you get the collection (blood/urine), and then you wait for results which are usually available in a couple business days. The collection is done at a general collection facility, so there are most likely locations in and around Phoenix. The cost and quality of customer care you receive will vary between companies, so be sure to compare and shop around before settling with one.

Posted in STD Testing

Hair Follicle Drug Testing – Can Body Hair Be Tested?

Written by Megan on November 2, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: Hello, I am in the midst of getting my ex to take a hair follicle drug test, but he claims it’s impossible because he is practically bald. Can body hair be tested instead? If so, will it affect the reliability of the test results? Thanks.

– Jess, Boston, MA

A: Body hair can definitely be tested. With a regular hair follicle test the collectors prefer to take the specimen from the scalp. Generally, they would like the sample to be 2.5-3 inches in length. The average person’s head hair grows at a rate of .5 inches per month. When the lab receives the hair for testing, it is cut to 1.5 inches in length. This length of hair roughly generates a three month window of detection.

If someone lacks hair on their head, such as your husband, most labs are willing to use a body hair collection. Sometimes it can be hard to get a significant enough quantity of body hair for analysis, but if they can it will provide a great test result. Some people have argued that because body hair grows at a different rate than head hair, the window of detection is expanded to as much as 12 months.

Find a lab that is willing to do a body hair collection, then propose the idea to your ex. If he still has an issue with it or refuses to take the test, you may consider legal action to get him to take it. Good luck.

Posted in Drug Testing, Hair Follicle Drug Test

Is There Any Way To Beat/Alter a Hair Follicle Drug Test?

Written by Megan on November 2, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: I was just wondering how accurate hair follicle drug tests are. Are they pretty accurate or is there any way to beat or alter the result?

– Jeff, NYC

A: Good question. For the most part, hair follicle tests do a great job of detecting drug use. However, there are a few exceptions. First, let’s start with the obvious. The most common hair follicle test checks for five substances: amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates and PCP. Prescription drug abuse has become a prevalent problem in the U.S., and unfortunately the common five-point hair follicle test will not check for common prescription drugs such as oxycodon, vicodin, xanax and percocet among many others. If these drugs are a concern for you, you may consider a more extensive panel or a different type of testing.

Also, recent consumption tends to not show up on hair follicle testing. This is because the metabolites that are being tested for take 1-2 weeks to actually become embedded within the follicle. Also, extremely light usage of a drug is not incredibly likely to show up in a screen. There are specific cutoff levels within the test to determine a positive result, and often times a light usage falls short of this cutoff. If light usage is a concern, you may consider a urine drug screen or ask the testing counselors if there are any options for a lower cutoff level.

There are certainly an abundance of products and methods available that claim to help people pass their drug tests. Many of these are false, and many of them are debatable. When it comes to hair follicle testing, the most common methods involve washing your hair with a special shampoo, or dying your hair to mask the test. The products of course claim that they work; however, most labs state that these products will not affect the test result. In fact, hair samples are typically washed before analysis to remove any traces from secondhand exposure, so this could discredit the shampoo lines.

Many people also believe that shaving their head will keep them from having to submit to a hair follicle test. This myth could actually backfire for some people. If hair from the scalp cannot be taken, many labs will take hair from the underarm, chest, leg or other part of the body. Since body hair grows at a different rate than head hair, it has been said that the window for detection is 12 months instead of the 3 months with a head hair test.

Overall, if you are concerned with a specific time of consumption or type of drug, it is best to ask the person you arrange testing with what options are available. Hope this helps!

Posted in Drug Testing, False Positive/Indeterminate, Hair Follicle Drug Test

Hair Follicle Drug Test – Can Passive Exposure to Drugs Cause a Positive?

Written by Megan on November 1, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: I recently tested my teenager with a hair follicle drug test and it came back positive for marijuana. He claims that he didn’t smoke it, but rather he was just around it. I want to believe him, but is this kind of thing even possible? Can just being around drugs cause a positive test result?

-Cheryl, Providence, RI

A: Hi, that is a very good question that we receive on a fairly regular basis. It is possible that a hair follicle drug test would detect passive exposure, but it’s not extremely common. Hair follicle tests primarily detect metabolites that become embedded in the follicle via the bloodstream. When the hair follicle test is performed, the lab washes the hair before testing to remove any outside traces of the parent drug. Washing the hair and specific cutoff levels for testing are in place for the exact purpose of eliminating the possibility of secondhand positive results. In order to test positive from a secondhand exposure, your son would most likely need to be in a small, confined area where there was a good deal of smoke/vapors that he was indirectly inhaling.

You might ask for a quantitative value on your son’s result. You can make the correlation that a positive result from passive exposure would be relatively low, whereas a direct positive would be higher. Unfortunately there is no way to be absolutely sure. You might consider a urine drug screen, which carries a shorter window for detection but is not as easily affected by passive exposure. Blood testing is a way to tell if someone is under the influence at the time they are tested, but once again the window for detection is extremely limited.

Sometimes the best way to deter drug use is to utilize random drug screening. Often times the knowledge that you can be brought in at any point for a drug screen is a great incentive to stay clean. Ultimately, it is your decision as the parent on how to handle the situation, but hopefully this helps.

Posted in Drug Testing, Hair Follicle Drug Test

Hair Follicle Drug Testing – Is There a Way To Detect Second-Hand Exposure?

Written by Megan on November 1, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Q: Hello, I am concerned that my ex-wife has been using drugs in the presence of our daughter. Whenever I pick her up from her mother’s house I can smell smoke on her hair and clothes. I have reason to remove my daughter from her care, but there’s no way that she will take a drug test. Is there any way I can test my daughter to see if she’s been affected by second-hand drug use?

– Bill, Tinley Park, IL

A: Hi, there are a lot of parents who are unfortunately in your position. With typical drug screens it is usually hard to detect second-hand use or passive exposure. There are cutoff values in place to avoid this possibility specifically. This can come as a difficult situation for parents to handle, especially when the other party involved will not consent to a drug screen. Fortunately, there is a test available that is actually designed to detect passive exposure. The test is performed using a hair specimen, and essentially lowers the cutoff levels and checks for residue from drug smoke/vapors and traces of the parent drug that have attached to the hair.

The test will detect if someone has directly consumed the substance, been around the vapors from the substance, or even if they have laid their head on a surface that had traces of the substance. While this test alone may not be enough to remove your daughter from your ex-wife’s custody, it could definitely give you an edge in the case. Keep in mind that this test will only check for specific substances. These substances are usually amphetamines/methamphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates and PCP. If you are concerned about another substance you should address this with the testing counselor you speak with.

Drug use can be a very difficult situation to address, especially when it involves family. Hopefully you can find the tests/tools you need to sort this out.

Posted in Drug Testing, Hair Follicle Drug Test

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Why You Should Choose a Hair Follicle Drug Test for Your Teen

Uncover a Relapse with a Hair Follicle Test

What is HPV?

Hypothesis of snake and insect venoms against Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a review

Symptoms of Chlamydia – Never Had Any, Never Cheated, But Somehow I Got It

STD Testing Phoenix

Hair Follicle Drug Testing – Can Body Hair Be Tested?

Is There Any Way To Beat/Alter a Hair Follicle Drug Test?

Hair Follicle Drug Test – Can Passive Exposure to Drugs Cause a Positive?

Hair Follicle Drug Testing – Is There a Way To Detect Second-Hand Exposure?

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