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In one study researchers compared hair follicle drug test results in people who admitted their drug use, so they could verify the test gave a positive result. Hair follicle drug screening has had a dramatic impact on the accuracy of Schneider’s drug screening methods. Between the date when the company began testing hair samples for drug abuse and April 2012, approximately 100 drivers failed its urine test. Hair follicle drug screening is far more reliable than any other form of drug testing, including urine and blood sample analysis. That’s because drugs and drug metabolites remain in the hair as it grows.
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This request ensures that the 1.5 inches equate to approximately three months of history. Hair follicle sample results are delivered within the same window as urine test results (2-3 business days). Some of these may lead to a false positive, so the staff should know about them ahead of time. Follow the specific instructions given to you, and don’t overhydrate. The drug test screens for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis (marijuana), although it may also pick up other compounds like cannabidiol (CBD).
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Metabolized drugs even attach to melanin – which gives hair its color. As the hair grows beyond the follicle, a hair sample can be collected and sent to a lab for analysis. Hair follicle drug tests are performed on a sample of hair, usually collected from a person’s scalp. How long drugs remain detectable in hair is called the window of detection.
How Accurate Is a Hair Follicle Drug Test?
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.
However, there are also some kits a person can buy and send to the lab themselves. A 10-panel drug test will look for 10 of the most common drugs that a person may be abusing. This selection usually includes five common prescription medications and five illicit street drugs.
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It does not indicate that the person has never used the drugs or that they will not use the drugs in the future. If a company or organization requires a person to take a 10-panel drug test, they will generally give them notice of about 24 hours. Some professions may require the person to agree to random drug testing where they have little to no knowledge of the test beforehand.
How Much Does a Hair Follicle Drug Test Cost?
Additionally, according to the University of Richmond, hair follicle tests may come back positive for people who may have been exposed to certain drugs without actually using them. For example, cocaine can bind to a substance in hair called melanin, which controls the pigment of your hair. If you had entered a room where people were snorting cocaine, it’s possible some cocaine may have landed in your hair and caused you to test positive for it.
Can I "cleanse" my hair of drugs so I will pass the hair follicle drug test?
The test is often used for employment screening, but it also is useful in other scenarios. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about drug testing or concerns about substance use disorder. For urine tests, detection times depend on how frequently the person smokes. Casual use can be detected up to three days; chronic use can be detected for 30 days or more. The 10-panel drug test looks for five commonly abused or misused prescription drugs, as well as five recreational drugs.
Hair, Saliva or Urine—Which Is Best for Drug-Testing Job Candidates? - SHRM
Hair, Saliva or Urine—Which Is Best for Drug-Testing Job Candidates?.
Posted: Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Why are hair follicle drug tests necessary?
Another important fact to note is that a 10-panel drug test will not tell if the person is currently on the drug. The tests measure byproducts in the body that come from breaking down the drug, so they cannot detect how much of the drug is circulating in the body. Hair test results may not correlate exactly with urine, blood or oral fluid test results. Some drugs, such benzodiazepines or THC, do not partition easily into hair or oral fluid but can be detected in urine for extended periods.
These tests can help detect chronic substance use and help track the duration of drug use, and they can also indicate periods of abstinence. It’s been discovered that metabolites that are deposited in hair follicles have a much longer lifespan. Metabolites remain detectable in a hair sample for up to 90 days from when they were consumed, and it can be an even longer period for certain drugs. Even in trucking companies where DOT required the standard 5 panel urine test; an additional hair test is required by many trucking companies. Research has shown that urine testing can better pick up cannabis, heroin/opioids, benzodiazepines, and methadone, but hair drug tests are better at picking up cocaine.
In many places, urine tests are the most common drug test for employment. They’re often administered to potential employees to check for drug abuse. Most drugs will show up in a urine test for at least 24 hours, with several lasting 72 hours or more. This extremely variable testing window means that employers should try to schedule testing as soon as possible when employees show signs of intoxication.
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