Hair follicle drug testing stands out as a highly precise and effective method for detecting drug use. In workplaces, it’s commonly employed to evaluate job applicants or ensure regulatory compliance, ultimately promoting a safer, healthier environment for staff. Though urine tests remain a staple for many employers, hair-based screening is surging in popularity.
Below, we’ve compiled responses to the most frequent questions about hair drug testing that we’ve encountered.
How Does a Hair Drug Tests Work?
A hair drug test analyzes a sample of hair, usually taken from the root, to detect evidence of drug use. When drugs enter the body, they get absorbed into the bloodstream. Since every hair follicle is nourished by its own blood vessel that supplies the growing hair cells, these drugs travel from the blood directly into the follicle. Drug residues then become detectable within the hair itself.
What Does a Hair Drug Test Look for?
Hair drug tests usually screen for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and PCP.
What Is a Hair Drug Test Sample?
A single strand of hair won’t cut it for a drug test, and you can’t grab one from a brush or anywhere else, it has to come straight from the person’s scalp. To accurately detect drug use, the sample must measure about 1.5 inches and be as thick as a pencil.
Why Do Employers Choose Hair Drug Tests?
Employers often favor hair drug testing over other sample types because:
- It detects drug use over an extended window, typically up to 90 days.
- Sample collection is straightforward and minimally invasive.
- Short-term abstinence by an employee rarely skews the outcome.
- Cheating is extremely tough, ensuring reliable results.
- Labs can retest the same sample multiple times for superior accuracy.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Hair Follicle Test?
Despite hair drug testing’s many advantages, it lags far behind urine testing in popularity. A few key factors might explain why:
- Hair tests cost more than alternatives.
- They reveal chronic drug use but miss very recent exposure.
- Results take longer to process.
How to Test a Bald Person?
Even with short hair, a sample is still possible, it simply requires taking from a bigger area of the scalp. For bald individuals or those with fully shaved heads, body hair works as an alternative. If the person has no body hair at all, a hair drug test isn’t feasible.
Can You Cheat a Hair Follicle Test?
It’s virtually impossible to beat a hair drug test. Shampoos or gimmicky products promising to purge drug metabolites from your follicles? They rarely deliver. Plus, with samples typically collected right in front of you, swapping them out is a non-starter.
How Far Back Can a Hair Drug Test Detect Drug Use?
Hair follicle drug tests offer the longest detection window, spotting drug use for up to 90 days in most cases. Depending on the substance, they can even reveal the timing of use and confirm if it’s stopped.