Child Guard® – Environmental Exposure

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children defines drug endangered children as those who are at risk of suffering harm because of illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation or distribution. When substances such as marijuana, methamphetamines, crack cocaine are smoked, residue from these substances can become airborne and settle on the hair where they can be absorbed into the hair shaft.

ChildGuard® is the only drug test specifically designed to identify passive exposure to drugs by detecting both native drugs and their metabolites in hair samples. Drug metabolites are only produced in the body if drugs have been ingested, so children exposed to drugs in their environment—who are typically not using substances themselves—often lack these metabolites. Most hair tests from other labs will only show a positive result if drug metabolites are present, potentially missing cases where only native drugs are in the child’s hair. In contrast, ChildGuard® provides a positive result if either native drugs or metabolites are detected, offering a clearer picture of the child’s environment. ChildGuard® can identify substance exposure over the past 3 months and is suitable for individuals of any age.