Hair drug testing is a comprehensive screening that can detect drug use for up to 90 days. This exam is excellent for identifying habitual users. Trace drug metabolites accumulate in the hair follicle when a person consumes drugs. These residues stay in the hair fiber's core and cannot be washed or flushed away.
A hair drug test usually has a 90-day detection window. This is more time than urine drug testing but less time than saliva and blood samples.
To ensure a safe workplace, the test is most frequently used for pre-employment screening and random drug testing of employees. In criminal courts, hair follicle testing is also used as forensic proof.
Drug metabolites can enter the body via oral ingestion, nasal inhalation, or vaporization and end up in various body areas, including your hair. These metabolites are detected in a laboratory using advanced chemical analysis because they stay in the hair as it grows.
Because head hair grows constantly, it is usually used for this testing, but body hair may also be collected. The detection window for this test can range from 5 to 90 days, depending on the quantity of hair.
Hair drug testing is a newer way of identifying illegal drug use with a much wider detection window than urine specimens. The detection window varies depending on the quantity of hair collected, but it is usually 90 days or more from possible usage.
Hair testing has been found to detect 5 to 10 times as many drug consumers as urinalysis. This is due to trace quantities of drug metabolites becoming entrapped in hair as it grows out from the body.
The test must be performed in a certified laboratory and needs a 1.5-inch sample, or slightly less than the thickness of two #2 pencils. This must be collected near the crown of the skull at the scalp.
Hair follicle testing is the most accurate and dependable drug screening method accessible. Unlike urine and blood tests, which can only identify drugs used within the last few days, hair drug testing has a detection window of 90 days.
Most drugs show in scalp hair 1 to 7 days after ingestion, with peak concentrations occurring about two weeks later. Urine provides only 2 to 3 days of drug exposure history for most drugs.
A 1.5-inch sample of about 200 strands taken from the scalp can provide up to 3 months of a person's drug history. Body hair from the breast, underarms, or legs may also be used.
Hair testing is a reputable, reliable, and lawful way of doing drug testing because it is not affected by external contamination, such as second-hand smoke. Furthermore, it is nearly difficult to substitute or adulterate a hair sample. As a result, it is an excellent option for employers looking to screen their employees for illegal drug use.
Hair drug testing is a laboratory test used to identify drugs and metabolite use in the body. It has a wider detection range than urine or blood tests and is better at detecting long-term drug use.
When using hair drug tests, several precautions should be considered. They include not using drugs and avoiding substances that could conflict with a hair sample.
Furthermore, it is critical to wash your tresses before the drug test. Even after washing, some drug residues may persist in the hair.
Several hair detox products are available that promise to remove drug traces from your hair. These, however, are not as dependable as abstinence and may not eliminate traces of toxins from the hair.
