Different drug testing methods have different perks, and people often overlook hair tests. A sample of your test subject’s hair can tell you the story of their drug use over the past 90 days. They’re more comprehensive than urine tests and can detect all of the most popularly abused substances. Learn what hair drug testing is and how it works, and decide whether it’s the right method for your needs.
Why Do People Use It?
People commonly use hair follicle drug tests to detect long-term habitual drug use. If a job carries an elevated risk of injury, or if employees regularly operate heavy machinery, a hair drug test can identify persistent drug habits. They’re also less invasive than urine or blood tests and are much harder to fool.
How Is It Performed?
To carry out a hair drug test on someone, the tester snips a small portion of their hair close to the scalp—a piece about 1.5 inches long. The testing facility will use clinical lab supplies to perform the test and wrap the sample in protective foil before sending it off to the lab. Then, the lab performs a two-step process to determine the presence or absence of illicit substances.
First, the tester uses a rapid screening process called an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, called ELISA for short. This test detects the presence or absence of specific drugs. If any positive results pop up from the initial screen, the tester then uses GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) to confirm the positive result.
Are Results Accurate?
Hair drug tests are known for detecting substance use up to three months back, but they can’t pinpoint the exact date the person used a drug. After all, everyone’s hair grows at a different rate.
Results from a hair drug test are more accurate than those from a urine drug test in that they’re nearly impossible to cheat. Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products won’t affect the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair follicle.
However, factors like the frequency of drug use and the structure of the drug compounds can produce false results. Bleaching hair can also damage the follicle.
When selecting a drug testing option, don’t discount hair follicle tests. They can detect long-term drug use, while urine tests only go back a few days. American Screening offers a wide variety of different testing methods; choose the one that’s right for you. When you know what hair drug testing is and how it works, that knowledge will help you shop for the right clinical lab supplies.