What Is a Hair Follicle Drug Test?

Table Of Content

• Does the hair follicle drug test work if I'm an infrequent user?
• What can a hair test detect? How To Pass a Hair Drug Test
• How do I pass my hair follicle drug test?
• What do the results mean?
• Can a Hair Follicle Drug Test Identify Date of Drug Use?
• Comparing Hair Follicle Testing to Other Methods of Determining Drug Use
• How Does Hair Testing Work?

Scarring alopecia is the most devastating type of hair loss, Mirmirani says, because it permanently destroys the hair follicles. ” stirs curiosity, the real focus should be on ensuring your hair tells the right story today. Macujo offers a tried-and-true solution with its Macujo Aloe Rid Shampoo, coupled with Mike’s Macujo Method, to effectively cleanse your hair of drug metabolites.

Does the hair follicle drug test work if I'm an infrequent user?

Therefore, a hair follicle test can be used to provide evidence of drug use over a 12 month period. If you are applying for a new job or dealing with a legal case, there’s a chance you might need to take a hair follicle test. This type of test involves examining your hair to see whether or not you have a history of drug usage, so it’s no surprise that it can feel stressful or invasive to some. Many people worry that hair follicle tests can detect drug use that happened months ago or identify drugs not found in urine tests.

What can a hair test detect? How To Pass a Hair Drug Test

Always contact your healthcare provider directly with any questions you may have regarding your health or specific medical advice. About 80 percent of the prescription drugs Americans take year are genericversions,... Because lab results are confidential health information, you’ll need to sign a release before the results are passed on to your workplace. People who shave their entire bodies may not be able to provide a usable sample of hair. It can only show whether a substance has been used within the past 90 days.

How do I pass my hair follicle drug test?

Hair follicle drug tests involve removing a small hair sample for laboratory testing. Results can show if a person has been using certain drugs or prescription medications in the previous 3 months. While hair follicle tests are powerful, the idea that they can accurately track drug use for a full year is more myth than reality. The standard window of detection is much closer to three months, which is still plenty of time for those substances to show up. Urine tests are the least expensive option for determining drug use over a 12 month period.

At-home hair follicle drug test kits are available for purchase online and over-the-counter at a variety of retailers. Some at-home hair follicle drug tests look for only one type of drug while others offer test panels that look for several drugs at once. Hair follicle drug testing has a longer window of detection than other types of drug tests. While drug use and misuse may not appear in the hair until 7 to 10 days after drug exposure, once it enters the hair it remains for weeks, months, or even years.

What do the results mean?

All of our tests are analyzed by certified labs like LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics. Hair follicle tests are also always reviewed by a certified MRO (Medical Review Officer) before the results are released. If an initial screening yields non-negative results, then they will undergo additional Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation testing. This allows individuals that may be legitimately taking prescription medication a chance to provide authorized proof to our doctors. As long as the individual takes the medication in accordance with the prescribed dosage, then the final report will list the result as a “negative”. Although it is still fairly new technology, hair testing is very effective as long as it is administered by a properly trained technician.

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This guide presents an in-depth look at hair follicle drug testing, its importance for employers, and how it compares to other testing methods like urine drug tests, saliva drug tests, and blood tests. In general, standard hair drug tests typically have a detection window of up to 90 days, or about three months. When a drug is consumed it leaves behind trace remnants known as “metabolites” in the blood stream that then become deposited in various portions of our physiology. These metabolites, however, have a lifespan for the period in which they remain detectable to certain testing methods and scientific instruments.

Therefore, hair from a couple of years ago isn’t going to have drug metabolites from the drugs you took a month ago. Once metabolites end up in your hair, a lot of lifestyle changes affect how long these metabolites last. Hair treatments like bleaching or perming your hair can affect drug testing, and even the shampoos you use will affect how long drug metabolites last. The amount you sweat, how dark your hair is, and how oily your hair naturally is can all affect the amount of drug metabolites in your hair. Even though these tests are commonly referred to as “hair follicle tests,” hair follicles are not used in the test and hair does not need to be plucked to be tested.

Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of family law and will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have the information you need to make wise decisions and prepare for the future. This dual function ensures that the detox process does not leave the hair brittle, dry, or damaged. It encompasses a series of pre-wash and rinse steps that adjust the pH level of the hair, encouraging the cuticle to open further.

However, in most cases, it can be very hard to dictate how people care for their hair. By the time a hair follicle test is ordered, a person may have cut their hair or treated it in a way that makes it harder to detect drug metabolites. One challenge we see with hair drug testing is the training of hair drug specimen collectors.

Positive test results indicate that a drug or its metabolite was detected in the sample of hair submitted for testing. Results of hair follicle drug testing are generally available within a few business days after the laboratory receives the sample. Processing times vary, so patients may find it helpful to ask their doctor or the laboratory when to expect results. The cost of hair follicle drug testing depends on where a sample is collected, the type of hair follicle drug test ordered, and who is paying for testing.