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The drugs you use can enter and stay in your hair follicles for 90 days or until the hair is removed. Collecting a sample of hair at a laboratory or at home involves cutting a lock of hair about the thickness of a pencil from the back of the head using scissors. During the collection process, the person cutting the hair should wear gloves to avoid contamination of the hair sample.
What drugs are included in a standard hair drug test?
Numerous other methods with varying degrees of accuracy, sensitivity (detection threshold/cutoff), and detection periods exist. A drug test may also refer to a test that provides quantitative chemical analysis of an illegal drug, typically intended to help with responsible drug use. Hair drug testing, also known as hair follicle drug testing, is a method used to detect the presence of drugs in a person's system. Unlike urine or blood tests that can only detect recent drug use, hair follicle drug testing provides a longer window of detection, typically covering up to 90 days. Hair testing for drugs of abuse is the only drug testing method available that provides up to a 90-day drug use history. When compared with urine testing, hair testing tends to provide a greater number of positives due to its longer detection window.
Interpreting test results
Often called hair follicle drug test, the hair follicle is not actually tested. The metabolites of the drugs go into the hair follicle and then into the hair strands. The hair strands are cut as close to the scalp as possible for drug testing. There is also some concern regarding environmental exposure to drugs, such as second hand marijuana smoke, and how it can affect a hair follicle test.
Does chemical treatment of the hair affect the test results?
True hair follicle testing requires the hair to be “plucked” rather than cut which can lead to extreme donor discomfort. This can be problematic for those who have decided to become healthy. Some people cannot secure employment due to previous drug use and a positive hair test for marijuana. How long drugs remain detectable in hair is called the window of detection.
What drugs are tested with hair testing?
We have Drug and Alcohol testing locations in all cities and surrounding areas throughout the State of California for employment, U.S. Testing includes urine, hair, oral saliva, ETG and instant result tests are also available. While you’re planning your cleansing process, you should also consider a full body cleanse just in case you aren’t sure what type of test you will be faced with.
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Accredited Drug Testing is a nationwide drug testing company with testing centers in California specializing in Drug, Alcohol, DNA testing. Drug testing purposes for employers include pre-employment, random selection, post-accident and reasonable suspicion. Testing purposes for individuals can include court ordered, probation, child custody or for any other personal reason. There is only one standard for this test, which is 1.5 inches of hair, cut from the root. We recommend that you watch the technician perform the test and ask them to cut off and discard the length beyond the first 1.5 inches. This request ensures that the 1.5 inches equate to approximately three months of history.
Does Psychemedics perform GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS confirmation of all positive results?
Shaving does not eliminate the presence of drug metabolites in the body. Several large trucking companies are now performing hair testing in addition to the required 5 panel urine lab-based testing. Some of these companies include JB Hunt, C. R. England, Schneider Trucking, Swift Transportation, Shell Oil, and others. These companies cite safety and the large investment required as their motivation for conducting hair drug testing in addition to required DOT urine drug testing.


This information becomes an invaluable tool for roles requiring alertness, focus, and safety. Drug tests for new and current employees may also be required by law for certain industries or positions, and conducting them can help employers stay compliant with local, state, or federal regulations. The GC/MS, which is short for chromatography-mass spectrometry, is an analytical method that combines gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry. It can identify different substances within a sample, confirming the initial test results.
U.S. Department of Transportation Approves Oral Fluid Testing for Drug Testing - The National Law Review
U.S. Department of Transportation Approves Oral Fluid Testing for Drug Testing.
Posted: Thu, 11 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A hair follicle drug test can detect whether a person has illicit or prescription drugs in their system. Negative test results indicate that no drugs or drug metabolites were detected in the hair sample. In some cases, the collection of a hair sample will be performed by a trained professional to prevent tampering, contamination, or substitution of the sample. Before taking a hair follicle drug test, patients should ask the organization requiring drug testing about requirements for hair sample collection. The purpose of a hair follicle drug test is to detect evidence of drug use or misuse in a sample of a person’s hair. Drug misuse describes using prescription drugs in a manner that isn’t prescribed by a doctor or using legal substances in an unhealthy way.
We’ll also cover how hair testing works, its detection period, and relevant hair follicle drug testing laws that employers should be aware of before implementing drug testing for job candidates or employees. In recent years the method to conduct drug testing has more frequently included a hair follicle drug test. Many employers, courts and Substance Abuse Professional are requiring a hair follicle drug test instead of a standard urine test. Hair follicle drug tests are used by employers who have zero tolerance drug use policies, courts and individuals on probation.
In these states, an employer must provide evidence that supports their decision to test a particular employee. An inconclusive result may mean the hair sample was contaminated or something went wrong with testing. If you have any questions about your detox, PassYourTest.com offers phone support to make sure you’re prepared for your cleansing process and have the maximum chance of success going into your hair follicle test. Contrary to popular belief, there is no way to cleanse your hair of any drug substance. Drugs enter your bloodstream and thus, become embedded in your hair, and it stays there until that hair is removed from your body.
A positive result means the drug or metabolite was found in the hair sample. All laboratories have no standard positive cutoff values, which may vary among labs. The test can pick up drugs or drug metabolites inside the hair shaft that have been deposited through the bloodstream. Like urine tests, the drugs that can be detected will vary depending on the chosen panel. A hair follicle drug test is one way to screen for recreational drug use or prescription drug abuse. Yes, the hair follicle drug test works regardless of how often one uses drugs.
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