If you're an employer who wants to maintain a drug-free workplace - or an individual who needs to order a drug test - there are different types of drug tests available to you. For example, you can opt for urine drug tests or hair follicle drug testing. With urine drug testing alone, there are various panels to choose from. One example is the 5-panel drug test. When we say that a drug test has five panels, it means that it tests for five substances.
In particular, US Drug Test Centers uses extended screening for amphetamines, which is why it includes methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, and MDEA. Extended screening for opioids is also used, which is why it includes codeine, morphine, heroin (6-AM), hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone. Opioid testing is especially useful considering our country's severe addiction to these drugs. The opioid epidemic is alive and well. In fact, research tells us that in 2019, approximately 10.1 million people 12 years of age and older misused opioids during the previous year. In particular, 9.7 million misused prescription painkillers, and 745,000 people used heroin.
5-panel drug tests are the most common drug test panel among employers and have been around since drug testing's inception in the 1980s. It's used for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certified laboratories. Are these panels suitable for testing hair for drugs as well? Absolutely! Although urine testing is more prevalent due to its simplicity in collection, hair drug testing provides distinct advantages. To start, it's more precise and more challenging to tamper with. It's impossible for a person to remove drugs or alcohol from their hair, and swapping samples is not feasible (though it is possible, albeit challenging) with urine drug testing. Additionally, hair drug testing can detect substances over a longer period. Hair drug testing, on the other hand, has a detection window of up to about 90 days. For this reason, hair follicle testing is particularly helpful if you're looking for a pattern of drug abuse.
Do note, though, that urine drug testing still offers its own benefits. Employers sometimes prefer it because it can tell them if an employee might currently have drugs in their system. Furthermore, hair drug testing isn't the best option for monitoring compliance because it can’t tell the difference between drugs consumed recently and drugs consumed weeks or months ago. Also, there's no "instant" testing like there is with urine.
Drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace is a big (and expensive) problem. Research says that drug abuse costs employers a whopping $81 billion dollars each and every year. First, you want to make sure that everyone at your workplace is on the same page when it comes to what is expected of them. Thus, the first step is to develop a rock-solid drug-free workplace policy. Your drug and alcohol testing policies. What drugs you screen for. What happens should an employee fail a drug test. Drug-free workplace training is also imperative. Maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free workplace can sometimes feel like a maze. Plus, employers need to ensure that they remain compliant with both local and federal laws. US Drug Test Centers can help.
Hair drug testing or “hair follicle testing” is a very accurate and efficient way of screening for drug use. Whether you’re trying to screen potential candidates for a new job or you’re maintaining compliance with certain regulations, drug testing is often used in the workplace to keep employees safe and healthy. A hair drug test uses a hair sample, typically from the hair’s root, to screen for drug use. When someone uses drugs, the substance is absorbed into the bloodstream. Because each hair follicle has a blood vessel to feed the hair growth cells, the drugs are carried from the blood into the hair follicle. A single hair isn’t going to be enough for a hair drug test, and you can’t use hair collected from a brush or another source - it must be taken directly from the person’s head.
Although there are a lot of positives to hair drug testing, it isn’t nearly as popular as urine drug testing. When someone has short hair, the sample can still be collected, it just has to cover a larger portion of the head. If a person is bald or has a shaved head, a body hair sample can be collected. A hair drug test is nearly impossible to cheat. Even if someone uses certain shampoos or products that claim to cleanse hair follicles, they’re unlikely to remove the drug metabolites. Hair drug tests have the longest detection period, and can typically detect drug use for up to 90 days.
Concentra offers a variety of drug testing solutions, including hair drug testing, to help keep your workforce safe and healthy. To learn more about our drug testing program, talk to one of our work health experts. The collector obtains a 100-milligram sample of hair (90 to 120 strands) cut at the scalp. Since hair samples are obtained in full view of the collector, the process minimizes the likelihood of sample adulteration or specimen substitution. 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.
- What does a 5-panel hair follicle drug test detect? It screens for marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates (codeine, morphine, heroin), amphetamines, and PCP.
- What is the detection window? Hair tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, representing about three months of history.
- Are hair tests more accurate than urine tests? Hair testing provides a longer detection window and is more resistant to tampering.
- Can hair tests be used for probation or court-ordered testing? Yes, they are commonly used in probation, drug courts, and treatment programs.
2-3 business days is a typical turnaround for negative results, with longer times possible for non-negative or complex cases. A 5 Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test finds THC, cocaine, heroin, PCP (Angel Dust), or meth if used during the last 90 days. Employers and individuals can register online or call to set up testing for staff or others. Our online registration process is simple. You choose the lab location based on ZIP code during registration, and a map of the clinic location accompanies the barcode. The registrant can then walk in to the drug testing facility and show the barcode along with photo ID.
Health Street's 5 Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test detects THC, cocaine, PCP, heroin or meth up to 90 days back. Negative hair drug tests typically come back in two to three business days, but in some cases can take longer. If the screening is not negative, further testing is required. The result of a 5 Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test is reported in secure PDF files which detail the list of the tested drugs. For each class of drugs, there is an indication of Positive or Negative. If a drug comes back positive, the specific metabolite which tested positive will be specifically indicated. Quantitative levels for positive results are available upon request. The PDF file can be easily downloaded from our portal, printed, or forwarded. The window of detection for a 5 Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test is approximately 90 days. However, this can vary depending on several factors.
Hair testing analyzes drugs within the hair shaft, rather than body fluids like urine or saliva, to determine whether drugs of abuse are present. Compared to the analysis of body fluids, hair testing is highly resistant to evasion by adulterating or substituting samples or by simply abstaining from drug use for a few days. Psychemedics’ patented method for detecting drugs in hair uses proprietary immunoassay and state-of-the-art GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS confirmation to permanently measure the drug molecules and metabolites entrapped in hair, which were incorporated following ingestion. Thousands of corporations use Psychemedics’ tests to screen applicants and perform random drug tests on their employees. Schools have been using the Psychemedics test since 1997 to help their students stay drug-free. Courts routinely use Psychemedics’ test in their probation, parole, and diversionary programs.
No. Testing a hair follicle would require a painful collection process. The true hair follicle test requires the hair to be “pulled” out of the scalp. However, Psychemedics hair follicle test requires the smallest sample in the industry, snipping above the scalp. No hair is “pulled” out of the scalp, and the hair follicle is not disturbed. Studies indicate that hair collected at the head’s crown grows on an average of approximately 1.3 cm (or ½ inch) per month. The primary difference is the wider window of detection with hair. Cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and PCP are rapidly excreted and usually undetectable in urine 72 hours after use. Rather than the hours or days covered by a body fluid test, a hair test covers a period of months, ensuring that a drug user cannot evade the test by simply abstaining for a few days.
Additional advantages include non-intrusive collection procedures, virtual elimination of test evasion through substitution or adulteration, and greater accuracy through test repetition capability. In most situations, the minimum time period is approximately one month. Comparison studies have proven that Psychemedics’ testing is up to 6-10 times more effective in identifying drug users than urinalysis. No, Psychemedics uses its proprietary digestion method to remove virtually 100% of the hair’s drugs, thereby increasing detection capabilities. Other laboratories may leach the drug from the hair, leaving behind or destroying some of the drugs in the process. Psychemedics also employs an extensive wash procedure on test samples and analyzes the wash to ensure that any potential contamination has been removed or taken into account.
Hair follicle drug testing detects evidence of drug use or misuse in a sample of hair. During hair follicle drug testing, scissors are used to remove a small sample of hair. The purpose of a hair follicle drug test is to detect evidence of drug use or misuse in a sample of a person’s hair. Drug use refers to the use of illegal substances. Hair follicle drug testing may be used over other types of drug tests because of its ability to show a longer history of drug exposure. This type of test may be helpful when testing for chronic drug use or misuse, understanding long-term patterns of use, and confirming periods of abstinence.
Employment testing: Employers may require drug testing in many situations, including when screening job applicants, for periodic or random detection of drug use by employees, or after a workplace accident. Medical testing: Although doctors rarely analyze a hair sample to evaluate a person’s health, there are situations in which a hair test can provide doctors with helpful information. Hair follicle drug tests identify drugs or drug metabolites in a sample of hair. Once a drug is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body. As the drug is broken down in the body, drugs and drug metabolites enter the core of the hair through the hair follicle, sweat glands, and oil glands on the scalp. Drugs and drug metabolites remain in the hair as it grows, which occurs at a rate of about one-half inch each month.
Hair Collection Drug Testing Demonstration - Taylor Made Diagnostics
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. The window of detection also varies based on the amount of drug use, frequency, and individual metabolism. Although longer samples of hair can be tested for drug exposure over a longer period of time, a standard sample of hair from the scalp is 1.5 inches and provides information about approximately 90 days of past drug exposure. A hair follicle drug test may focus on detecting one specific drug in the hair or on detecting several substances in a hair follicle drug panel.
The use of drug tests is impacted by federal, state, and local laws. Many parents consider using drug testing as a tool to prevent or confirm the use or misuse of drugs in children and adolescents. Hair follicle drug testing can be ordered by a doctor or an administrator of a program that requires drug testing. At-home hair follicle drug test kits are available for purchase online and over-the-counter at a variety of retailers. 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. Patient costs may be covered by an individual’s health insurance or the organization requiring a drug test. Hair follicle drug tests are performed on a sample of hair, usually collected from a person’s scalp. 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. Although there are no special precautions necessary before a hair follicle drug test, patients should inform their doctor of medications or supplements that have recently been taken.
Collecting a sample of hair at a laboratory or at home involves cutting a lock of hair about the thickness of a pencil from the back of the head using scissors. Hair is collected as close to the scalp as possible, near the hair’s root, to provide information about recent drug use. If patients don’t have sufficient hair on their scalp, hair may be collected from the face, armpit, pubic area, or another unshaven part of the body. After a hair sample is collected, it is packaged according to instructions contained in the collection kit and sent to a laboratory for testing. Once received by the laboratory, the hair sample may be washed prior to testing. Specialized methods of washing the hair sample remove some external contaminants, dirt, and grease from the surface of the hair. Results of hair follicle drug testing are generally available within a few business days after the laboratory receives the sample. The results of hair follicle drug tests may be reported as positive or negative. Negative test results indicate that no drugs or drug metabolites were detected in the hair sample.
When interpreting results, it may be helpful to understand the laboratory method used for testing. Laboratory methods used in hair follicle drug testing are similar or slightly modified versions of those used in more common forms of drug testing, like urine drug testing. Initial test methods: Immunoassays are a common method of drug testing but provide only preliminary results. Results include which drug or drug classes were detected above the lab’s cutoff for positive results. Although hair follicle testing is an accepted form of drug testing, the results of this test can be affected by a variety of factors, including environmental exposures, hair composition, use of hair products, and even hair color. Additionally, some drugs attach to the hair more easily, like nicotine and heroin, while other drugs are more difficult to detect in hair.
Environmental exposures can lead to inaccurate results, for example by exposure to secondhand smoke. Hair color and hair treatments such as shampooing, coloring, relaxing, and bleaching can affect the concentration of drugs detected. Challenging to interpret: Hair follicle drug testing may be more challenging to interpret than other types of drug tests due to the many factors that may affect the interpretation of test results. Hard to detect low-level use: It can be difficult to detect low-level or one-time drug use or misuse using a hair sample for drug testing. Follow-up testing after a hair follicle drug test depends on the test results and the purpose of drug testing. 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.
Hair follicle drug testing is a robust tool for long-term monitoring and accountability, integrating laboratory-based confirmation with clear reporting. It is widely used across employment screening, probation monitoring, treatment programs, and court-ordered testing to support safe and healthy outcomes in various settings.