AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
Question QUESTION: How long does it take for THC metabolites to pass from the system? I flunked a drug screen and need to know how long it willbe before I can pass one.... last smoked a bowl on 8/7/07...
ANSWER: Hi Pete,
THC stays in the body for as long as 4 weeks so I think you will be clear now.
Ravi Ghooi
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QUESTION: Thank you! - what about hair tests? The test I flunked was a hair sample... and I read that THC is stored in fat cells and can be released at any time?
Answer Hi Pete,
When marijuana (THC) metabolites are in the blood, they'll end up in the blood vessels, including those in the head, and get filtered through the hair. In basic terms, at least, this is how hair drug testing comes about. The marijuana THC metabolites will remain in the hair as a permanent record of drug use for months .
Hair drug testing can cost quite a bit more than a urine drug test, but is used because of its unique ability and effectiveness. A hair drug test involves cutting 50-60 strands of hair from the scalp, and sending the sample in to a drug testing lab where it is then liquefied. Average hair grows ¼ to ½ inch per month, and hair drug tests use hair one and a half inches from the scalp.
Hair drug testing is quite accurate and can go back months, showing all of the toxins a person may have used in a sort of like a timeline fashion. For example, consider that hair is a living organism similar to a living plant. If that plant is grown in a toxic environment it will grow with this toxin or toxins as part of its molecular structure. One cannot change what their hair is made of nor can this molecular structure be removed of toxins at the root level, no pun intended. Masking hair is effective, but only lasts a few hours, and this is why some drug testing companies who claim they can clean hair virtually forever are flat out incorrect. A person's skin contains adipose tissue (fat cells), which is where most drug toxins are stored to begin with. Logic suggests when the body gives off skin oil or sweat, then these previously-hidden toxins will enter into the hair strand. Hair masking is not always easy, either. It's quite simple to contaminate masked hair by using a comb, brush or towel that hasn't been thoroughly cleaned. The same goes for hair gels and hair spray. This will weaken the masking treatment.
Hair can reveal use of THC over months, dpendng upon the growth rate of hair.
I hope this information is adequate for you.
