90-Day Drug Use Detection: Hair Follicle Test

Table Of Content

• How far back does a hair follicle test detect drugs?
• Hair Drug Testing Overview
• Testing Process
• Managing Your Health
• How accurate are hair follicle drug tests?

Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Michael is an experienced healthcare marketer, husband and father of three. He has worked alongside healthcare leaders at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, St. Luke's, Baylor Scott and White, HCA, and many more, and currently leads strategic growth at Solv. The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws. By Jaime R. Herndon, MS, MPHHerndon is a freelance health/medical writer with a graduate certificate in science writing from Johns Hopkins University.

How far back does a hair follicle test detect drugs?

Cold remedies, decongestants, and hay fever medicines can show up as amphetamines and poppy seeds may show up as opiates. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you’re taking prescribed medications, let the administrator of the test know.

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Hair Drug Testing Overview

Hair follicle tests can detect the presence of some prescription medications, which can lead to a false-positive result. Hair follicle tests can provide a much larger window of detection than urine tests. Although hair samples undergo a two-step testing process, they are not 100 percent accurate. Prescription medications and certain foods, such as poppy seeds, may contain compounds that might lead to false positive results. Healthcare professionals sometimes request testing for people at risk of drug or alcohol misuse. In Los Angeles, California, significant changes regarding employment-related drug testing and marijuana use have taken effect on January 1, 2024.

Testing Process

An important factor in hair testing to consider is how the drugs got into the hair strand. Drugs can be deposited from the blood by diffusion into a hair follicle, where they then grow into the hair shaft and bind to hair proteins. Drugs may also integrate into the hair through sweat or even through environmental exposure (e.g. smoke). To reduce the likelihood that results are due to environmental contamination, Averhealth washes all hair samples prior to testing. A positive result indicates drug exposure, but it may not be possible to say how that exposure occurred.

Other brands can cost less (though might not test for as many substances). Richmond, Va. – Using hair as a method of detection for drug use is not new in forensics. Hair’s long window of detection and the relative ease of collection make hair an excellent choice for testing.

Managing Your Health

The length of the detection window varies based on a number of factors, including the amount and frequency of drug use or misuse and the rate at which the drug is metabolized in the body. Some drugs continue to enter new hair growth for months after a person’s last drug exposure. Once the hair follicles have been analyzed by a certified laboratory they will then be reviewed and then verified by a Medical Review Officer (licensed Physician) who will than release the results. Generally a negative hair follicle drug test result is available in 2-3 days. A non-negative hair follicle drug test is available in approximately 5 days.

The drugs, estimated to have a street value of $33 million, underscore the significant impact of drug trafficking operations in the region and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat these activities. Stay in compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations using our DOT-Compliant Oral Drug Test. This specialized test adheres to DOT guidelines for safety-sensitive positions. It analyzes saliva samples for drug use and ensures strict compliance with DOT standards. Because lab results are confidential health information, you’ll need to sign a release before the results are passed on to your workplace.

Complete Guide to Lab Tests

It is important to note that this is an initial authorization for hair testing but regulations and guidelines still need to be established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Law requires HHS to issue guidelines no later than 1 year from the date of enactment. It will be interesting to see if hair drug testing becomes a reality for the DOT program as early as January of 2017. When a person ingests a drug, it enters into the bloodstream while the body simultaneously metabolizes the drug, causing those metabolites to circulate through the blood as well.

Professional organizations advocate for the ethical use of drug testing, often emphasizing the importance of patient education and consent before conducting a drug test. An inconclusive result may mean the hair sample was contaminated or something went wrong with testing. A negative result means no drugs or metabolites were found in the sample. Accredited Drug Testing Inc will work with your insurance agent to ensure that any available discounts are provided for implementing and properly maintaining a drug free workplace. Businesses that utilize an employee drug testing program are commonly referred to as a Drug Free Workplace.

In actuality the hair is cut from the head closest to the scalp and the laboratory will test for the actual drug metabolites transferred from the body's bloodstream and are embedded in the hair strand. Hair follicle drug testing or hair drug testing is an alternative to the standard urine drug testing. A hair follicle drug test is popular among employers, substance abuse professionals and courts as it offers a longer detection window than urine drug test. This is one of the reasons why hair drug tests lead to a greater number of positives and are used by employers adopting a zero-tolerance drug testing policy.

Some companies require potential employees to take a drug test as part of their application process, particularly for jobs that carry a high risk of injury. Employers may also carry out random drug testing for current employees, or they may request drug tests following serious accidents or incidents. However, employers still have the right to maintain a drug-free workplace and can require employees to submit to drug tests before hire and during employment. If a drug test result is positive, a health care provider may ask questions to evaluate the patient for a substance use disorder or addiction. Regardless of whether a patient meets the criteria to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, treatment is available for drug use and misuse.

Order A Hair Drug Test Find Hair Drug Testing Near You

Table Of Content

• DOT Oral
• Hair Sample Drug Test
• Interpreting test results
• Ask a Laboratory Scientist
• Customized Service, Accurate Results
• Hair Test ETG Alcohol
• Lab Disciplines & Services

This drug test analyzes hair follicles to detect drug use over a longer period, usually up to 90 days. This test identifies a range of substances, including marijuana, cocaine, opioids, and more. Results typically take about 3 to 5 days, providing insights into an individual's drug history for various purposes such as employment or legal requirements. The DOT urine drug test is available upon request and follows the regulations set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). This urine test checks for drug use, including substances like marijuana, cocaine, opioids, and amphetamines. It's a convenient testing option, ensuring compliance with DOT guidelines, and offers timely results for workplace or regulatory purposes.

DOT Oral

Hair drug testing uses the first inch and a half of growth from the base and roughly 120 strands, to determine any drug use within the past approximately 7 to 90 days. Although it is still fairly new technology, hair testing is very effective as long as it is administered by a properly trained technician. Our experience has allowed us to develop the expertise that has helped to make our testing processes as simple and efficient as possible. There are several types of hair drug test panels available, depending on the substances you want to test for.

Hair Sample Drug Test

One of the benefits of follicle drug tests is that they can show whether someone used or abused drugs as far back as three months before the test. This is possible because drugs present in the bloodstream actually become a part of hair cells as the hair grows. The sweat and sebum present on your scalp may also play a role in drug presence in existing strands of hair. The collection and testing of hair for this test follows a very specific set of standards to increase accuracy. During testing, the collected hair is washed and tested for environmental contamination that could change the results of the test. Your hair strand test might take place in a lab or within a hospital setting.

Interpreting test results

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Blood tests are usually performed at every routine medical checkup, but many times, the results can be... Lab tests are routinely performed by doctors to detect changes in your health. A mouth swab drug test can detect whether you have illicit or prescription drugs in your system.

Ask a Laboratory Scientist

Our drug testing centers are available in all areas of the United States. 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. Beyond the ethical implications of drug use in a professional setting, there are, of course, legal considerations.

Customized Service, Accurate Results

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. The hair follicle drug tests screen for the drug itself and the metabolites your body would produce if you ingested, or smoked, the drug. That means that even if marijuana smoke got stuck in your hair, as long as you did not inhale it, then your hair will have no evidence of marijuana metabolites, so your test will not be positive. One challenge we see with hair drug testing is the training of hair drug specimen collectors.

Hair Test ETG Alcohol

Using strategic partners, Labcorp offers initial screening tests performed by immunoassay with confirmation of presumptive positive screens by mass spectrometry. Results for specimens that screen negative for all drugs are generally available within 48 to 72 hours after specimens are received at the laboratory. Results for confirmation testing of presumptive positive screens are usually available within an additional 72 hours. The collector obtains a 100-milligram sample of hair (90 to 120 strands) cut at the scalp. The collector secures the hair sample in foil and completes chain of custody documentation in preparation for shipment to the testing laboratory. Hair follicle drugs of abuse testing offers up to a 90-day window for detection of drug use and a convenient collection process that can be performed almost anywhere.

Lab Disciplines & Services

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When compared to other forms of testing (urine, blood, oral fluids), hair samples can detect a longer period of drug use. For example, urinalysis can only detect most drugs within 2-3 days of use. After this period, a donor will be free of the drug, test negative and slip through the screening process. This is important in pre-employment testing where most candidates are aware that a drug test might be required and can abstain accordingly. With hair samples, the only time limitation for detecting drug usage is imposed by the length of the donor’s hair.

These on-site services are able to ensure maximum employee participation as well as minimum disruption to the work day. As a result of drug and alcohol abuse, employers see increased costs related to medical fees, absenteeism and overall productivity. It begins with a preliminary screening test, and if the results indicate drug usage, a confirmatory test is subsequently performed. This method is notable for its ability to provide a comprehensive overview of the individual’s recent substance use history and its high resistance to tampering. During the test, the tester will remove a small hair sample close to a person’s scalp and send it to a laboratory for overnight testing. Our medical professionals are considered the best in the business and will ensure you have the personalized, discreet service you deserve.

Because hair growth rates vary from person to person, this test can’t accurately determine when in the 90 days drugs were used. While a urine drug screen can detect if you’ve used drugs in the last few days, a hair drug test can detect drug use in the past 90 days. One issue with the standard urine test, however, is the duration of metabolites that are deposited in the urine. Alcohol in particular has a very short life, and can lose effectiveness for detection in as little as 90 minutes. Other industries that have embraced hair testing include, but are not limited to, the oil and gas industry, the gaming industry, and the auto manufacturing industries.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, hair drug tests are used by approximately 7% of employers that screen employees for drug use. This type of drug test may be used by employers, courts, addiction treatment centers, and individuals who want themselves or a loved one tested for drug use, reports the NIH. Some corporate, legal, medical, and educational institutions have turned to hair follicle drug tests as a complementary approach to traditional urine-based testing. Our medical professionals obtain a small hair sample from the scalp or body, then send the specimen to the lab, which delivers the results in 48 to 72 hours.

Employers have several drug testing options available to them, each with its own benefits. The hair drug test offers the longest window of detection, with the ability to identify drug use up to 90 days prior. Urine drug tests, on the other hand, have a shorter detection period, typically a few days to a week. Blood tests are more invasive, but they’re also more resistant to manipulation and can provide an accurate snapshot of current substance use. In Los Angeles, California, Health Street provides drug testing for employers and individuals at 15 professional drug testing locations.

Our options include Department of Transportation (DOT) drug tests, non-DOT urine drug tests, breath alcohol tests, EtG alcohol tests, and hair drug testing. Once you pick your test, simply choose the best clinic location that meets your needs, and register online. Hair follicle drug testing can be a useful tool for detecting drug use in a variety of settings, from workplaces to drug treatment programs. This type of testing has a high level of accuracy and can detect drug use over a longer period of time than other types of drug tests. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of hair follicle drug testing and consider other factors, such as cost and invasiveness, when deciding whether to use it.

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. At National Drug Screening, we make it easy to order a hair test online or by phone.

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. Hair drug testing has also become popular for workplace drug testing for potential hires.