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Hi,
I hope you can help.
I am expecting a Family Court hearing in October and expect to be asked to do a drug test. I have been clean all year apart from a three month period April-beginning of July, when I was using cocaine regularly.
Do courts sometimes ask for a 6 month test, rather than a 3 month one?
My hair is very short. Whilst I have avoided cutting it , what happens if, at the time of the test, I do not have 3cm on my head?
If they take body hair, will that read 3 months or 6?
I might add that coming off it has been brilliant for me. I am annoyed that I slipped back into it , I hope I do not live to regret that.
Thanks in advance
My partner was ordered a 6 month one. They got almost 3cm of head hair (1inch) and some leg hair just incase it wasn't long enough to read.
They can get 6 months from an inch.
The lab he used were very informative and helpful. You could call and speak to one.
He paid to have someone come out to his work to take samples. They travelled from Cardiff.
They can't take armpit or public hair for drug testing. Do you have to do alcohol too?
Luckily he doesn't take drugs so we knew would be clear, frustrating really. But had to prove.
There's alot of info online if you Google it.
We didn't delve too much as knew it would be clear.
Good luck.
I don't know what company you used, but as far as I'm aware, most accredited companies work on the premise that hair grows at about 1cm a month. People's hair growth is different, so it's not an exact science.
When someone uses a drug it takes approximately two weeks for that part of the hair follicle that is contaminated to grow through to the outside of the scalp. For every month they have to test they take one cm, so to test the previous three months they will take the three cms nearest the scalp and discard the rest.
Again, as far as I'm aware, they can take body hair too.
It's best that you talk to the company that you will be using and they will answer all of your questions. Just make sure that you use an accredited company that are accepted by the Ministry of Justice.
Huge apologies for my dud info, Mojo absolutely right, of course it is 1cm per month and my partner had a 3 month one last year with the last court case and I've got muddled up. Apologies. It's all been going on so long now for us it's one big blur! 🙁
This year (new case) they ordered a 6 month. Drink and drug.
They did however tell him no armpit or public hair due to sweat but forearm and leg hair was fine. (Although that might just be the lab he used)
He really isn't very hairy and being a guy with fairly short hair didn't manage enough on head only got an inch. (No time to grow much more)
So they took leg hair and again it's so light they took what they could and got a reading of 5 months. They called him and told him lengths once measured in lab before deciding which Sample to use. Obviously did longest one.
Was all accepted and reputable lab called Cansford laboratories in Cardiff.
The fact it was only 5 months hasn't been brought up in court as I say been accepted. But may not be case for everyone.
Definitely call the labs for info and I know my partner will highly recommend the guys above. They been so helpful and explained everything to him clearly.
When his ex questioned whether he'd tricked the system (used someone else's hair haha!) As she weren't happy that they were negative. The lab were very helpful in sending her a break down and how testing is done.
I'm still a little anxious that they will ask for six months! The norm appears to be three months so here's hoping.
Thanks everyone.
Eesh. Can't wait that long. My MIAM will have run out by then, and anyway it will be even further down the road of reduced contact and therefore harder to restore my previous level of it. I may just have to come clean.
If you have a court date in October, the MIAM is irrelevant as it’s already gone past that stage.
If there have been allegations made about drug use, the court may ask you to take a drug test, but it’s not set in stone.
Perhaps you could speak to your GP about having a series of drug tests prior to the court case, it would show that you aren’t currently taking drugs and the court may well accept that and not push for a further test. I’m not sure if it’s possible but worth a try.
Best of luck
huh, and I thought that urine test was better.. I didn't know you could do a test from hair.. and for 6 months ago..
Anyway,I remembered I've heard of a similar situation when my friend had to do a hair follicle test for 6 months for the court and they've taken it from head and from leg, just in case. So yeah, it really shows for a 6 months period too.