To DrBill100:

I have read many of your post about the subject but as you may see from many people, but I still have to ask for myself. I recently was offered a new job opportunity and what was required was a Hair Drug Test (HDT). Before the date of the HDT it was 71 days that I did pot (around 2 hits from a vaporizor). The reason is something you probably do not care for and has no bearing to the situation. I was very stressed at my old job and nothing was going right for me, so at a 4 of July BBQ I needed a little something.
What are the odds I get offered a job right after that requires a HDT. Anyway, before that date, I did not touch the stuff for years, and have not touch the stuff in between the 71 day period. The HDT required my armpit hair due to the shortness of my head hair. I know you say that low amount of use will not detect from the reseaches you leave, but every time I click on them, it shows no website found. So, my reasoning for concern.

My question: Given my situation, how much can they detect and what would be your expert opinion? Would I have a good chance of passing the drug test? Also, what do you consider "infrequent"? I'm sure I'm considered as one, but what to be absolutely sure.
Thank you.

Regardless of the drug tested for 2 hits will not be detected by HDT and that goes 10 fold for THC which has the lowest incorporation rate of all substances. That has nothing to do with the time span rather is related to the low incorporation rate.

Here are some resources. Sorry there were some not working.

DuPont 2008, Random Student Drug Tests Are They Effective for Identifying Occasional Drug Users? (http://www.preventionnotpunishment.org/pdfs/RandomStudentDrugTests9608.pdf) p. 8

Galanter & Kleber, 2011 Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, (http://books.google.com/books?id=NEWpRlwUAmcC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=marijuana+incorporation+into+hair&source=bl&ots=vEelAPWmux&sig=7I9Z-DIiT0tv_2eg6X2fz7NSeA4&hl=en&ei=5oTiTsTlOIv22AXV5smyBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CHMQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q=marijuana%20incorporation%20into%20hair&f=false) American Psychiatric Publishing, Wash, DC, p. 58

Marilyn A. Huestis (2007) Human Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetics. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/) Chem Biodivers. 2007 August; 4(8): 1770–1804. Sec 3.5

Regardless of the drug tested for 2 hits will not be detected by HDT and that goes 10 fold for THC which has the lowest incorporation rate of all substances. That has nothing to do with the time span rather is related to the low incorporation rate.

Here are some resources. Sorry there were some not working.

DuPont 2008, Random Student Drug Tests Are They Effective for Identifying Occasional Drug Users? (http://www.preventionnotpunishment.org/pdfs/RandomStudentDrugTests9608.pdf) p. 8

Galanter & Kleber, 2011 Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, (http://books.google.com/books?id=NEWpRlwUAmcC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=marijuana+incorporation+into+hair&source=bl&ots=vEelAPWmux&sig=7I9Z-DIiT0tv_2eg6X2fz7NSeA4&hl=en&ei=5oTiTsTlOIv22AXV5smyBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CHMQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q=marijuana%20incorporation%20into%20hair&f=false) American Psychiatric Publishing, Wash, DC, p. 58

Marilyn A. Huestis (2007) Human Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetics. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/) Chem Biodivers. 2007 August; 4(8): 1770–1804. Sec 3.5


Thank you for responding so quickly. This gave me a little reassurance. However, just wondering, do you know of anyone who has had similar situation as me who have actually failed the HDT? Or have they all passed?

Thank you for responding so quickly. This gave me a little reassurance. However, just wondering, do you know of anyone who has had similar situation as me who have actually failed the HDT? Or have they all passed?

I know of no one that has failed and many that have passed. Not sure that is the best indicator. It is simply the nature of the test. Let me know the results so I can add you to the list.

I know of no one that has failed and many that have passed. Not sure that is the best indicator. It is simply the nature of the test. Let me know the results so I can add you to the list.


Sorry for all the questions... I just beyond stressed.
I was also wondering why employers opt to do a HDT vs urine? After reading... if instance, if someone was to take 2 hits and failed the urine test, could they pass the HDT because of the different methods used of testing?
Thank you again for all your repsonses. Much appreciated.

HDT is effective for detecting certain types of drugs but not others. Employers usually rely on third parties to set up programs and do so for insurance reasons. Seldom have any knowledge of drug testing.

When it comes to testing for cannabis metabolites several studies have found that self-report is more accurate than testing. In other words, just ask the individual and your success rate will be better than testing.

There is no question that urine testing is more reliable for detecting cannabis use than hair testing. But at two hits it is unlikely that either method would detect.

Ledgerwood, 2008 (http://www.rkp.wustl.edu/VESlit/AddictiveBeh08.pdf) Addict Behav. 2008 September; 33(9): 1131–1139

HDT is effective for detecting certain types of drugs but not others. Employers usually rely on third parties to set up programs and do so for insurance reasons. Seldom have any knowledge of drug testing.

When it comes to testing for cannabis metabolites several studies have found that self-report is more accurate than testing. In other words, just ask the individual and your success rate will be better than testing.

There is no question that urine testing is more reliable for detecting cannabis use than hair testing. But at two hits it is unlikely that either method would detect.

Ledgerwood, 2008 (http://www.rkp.wustl.edu/VESlit/AddictiveBeh08.pdf) Addict Behav. 2008 September; 33(9): 1131–1139

Would it make a difference if the test is being done by Psychmedics? Do I have a higher chance of failing? It seems from your other post if I pass from them, than I can pass other HDT. Is the cutoff for them lower or something?
Thank you. I apologize and will be the last question for today.

Would it make a difference if the test is being done by Psychmedics? Do I have a higher chance of failing? It seems from your other post if I pass from them, than I can pass other HDT. Is the cutoff for them lower of something?
Thank you. I apologize and will be the last question for today.

Psychemedics does use a lower cutoff than other labs (10pg/10mg). They just lowered it in May, I believe. Most labs use 20pg or 50 and most employment tests are at 50.

But remember these figures are at trillionth 0.000000000010 gram so the difference isn't as great as it seems at first glance. Is lower though.

Psychemedics Microplate EIA for Cannabinoids in Hair (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf11/K111929.pdf) 510k filing (2012)

Psychemedics does use a lower cutoff than other labs (10pg/10mg). They just lowered it in May, I believe. Most labs use 20pg or 50 and most employment tests are at 50.

But remember these figures are at trillionth 0.000000000010 gram so the difference isn't as great as it seems at first glance. Is lower though.

Psychemedics Microplate EIA for Cannabinoids in Hair (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf11/K111929.pdf) 510k filing (2012)

Okay sorry sorry. One more.
With knowing that the cutoff is 10pg/10mg, is this still for more heavier smokers? I just don't know what this cutoff means, even reading all of the sites provided. I see that 1 day of smoking will be very very hard to detect, but how is that knowing the lower cutoff?

No particular consequence. Before anything can be detected it must be present. The metabolite never made it into your hair.

No particular consequence. Before anything can be detected it must be present. The metabolite never made it into your hair.

Thank you for all your insights.
I will let you know the result in the coming week.

Thanks DrBill100. I am cleared and ready to go, like you said. Thanks for making my days a little easier to deal with. Funny how after stopping for 15 years and that one day of high, I get a HDT.

Thanks DrBill100. I am cleared and ready to go, like you said. Thanks for making my days a little easier to deal with. Funny how after stopping for 15 years and that one day of high, I get a HDT.

I'm sure you must be relieved. No matter how much research one dredges up it still can't relieve the anxiety until the results come in. Best of luck to you in the new job.

Reading this made me pretty happy. I haven't smoked since mid January. I took about 3 hits off a blunt 47 days ago. Took my test today (Friday) and when I have failed in the past, they (psych medics) has called me within 2 days to ask if I have any prescriptions and basically I failed. But I am praying more than ever, that these 3 hits don't come back to screw me. This is the best job offer I have received and I am not happy where I am at. So I go by the no call = good, until of course your employer calls you in for orientation. DrBill100, you are the man! I appreciate your responses to all forums, I have read a lot, and you have given me a little stress release, however I do understand nothing is guaranteed. I will also post my results within the week.