How many hairs do you need for a hair follicle drug test?

Conclusion. Hair strand testing requires several hundred hairs per sample . When both hair drug testing and hair alcohol testing is requested and taking into account “B” Samples a donor may have to provide up to 4 samples each of 200 hairs.

How accurate is a hair analysis drug test?

Every individual is different, so hair follicle testing is not 100 percent accurate . While shampoos and styling products aren't seen as affecting test results, how much a person sweats, skin pigmentation, amount of drug use, and hair bleach may affect drug concentrations.

How far can hair drug test detect?

In general, the detection time is longest in hair, followed by urine and oral fluid. Drugs in hair may be detectable for approximately 90 days , whereas drugs in urine are generally detectable for one to seven days or longer in chronic users and in oral fluid from five to 48 hours.

How long does it take to grow 1.5 inches of hair?

How Fast Does Hair Grow? We'll cut straight to it: On average, hair grows at a rate of about half an inch per month , or six inches per year. Each hair on your head grows from an individual follicle.

What does a 10 panel hair follicle test for?

Standard 10-panel test: typically looks for cocaine, marijuana, PCP, amphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, & Quaaludes . 12-panel test: often administered as an extension to the 10-panel test.

Can I refuse a hair follicle test?

Can you refuse a hair follicle drug test? While it is technically possible to refuse a hair follicle drug test, employers and other organizations can refuse employment or other opportunities if a test is not taken . It is important to note that refusing a test may be viewed as an admission of drug use.

Will one night of drinking show up in a hair follicle test?

We take in to consideration the time it takes for alcohol to move from the blood to the hair follicle. On average, it takes alcohol 7 to 10 days to break down in the body and move into the hair strand. Once alcohol has moved from the blood into the hair strand, we detect it using hair alcohol testing.

How long does a hair follicle take to grow back?

Hair follicles typically grow back within one to two months as long as your scalp does not need to recover from damage. If your hair follicles are damaged, it can take up to four years until they are able to regrow hair normally unless it is permanent, in which case no new strands will grow.

What is more accurate blood test or hair test?

Blood tests can only detect within a week. But hair follicle tests can detect drug use within the past 90 days . And because hair grows about 1/2 an inch per month, you only need hair that's about 1.5 inches long. In theory, you could look even farther back than the last 90 days depending on the person's hair length.

What is the most accurate drug test?

Blood testing is expensive and invasive, but is the most reliable for determining if the individual is under the influence of drugs or alcohol right now.

Who has the most head hairs?

Blondes have an average of 150,000 hairs, the average redhead has 90,000. Those with black or brown hair average 110,000 to 100,000 hairs .

How much is 100 milligrams of hair?

A 1.5-inch sample of about 200 strands of hair (about the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will give 100mg of hair, the ideal sample for screening and confirmation.

Hair Drug Testing 101 (2024)

ByHaley Bass|04/27/2018

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. While most employers are familiar with using urine samples for drug tests, an increasingly popular testing method is hair drug testing.

Here are our answers to some of the common hair drug testing questions we’ve received.

How does a hair drug test work?

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. Traces of drugs can then be detected in the hair follicle.

What does a hair drug test test for?

Hair drug tests typically test for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and PCP.

What is required for a hair drug test sample?

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. For the analysis to effectively determine drug use, a sample of hair needs to be 1.5 inches long, and have the thickness of a pencil.

Why would an employer choose hair drug testing over other sample options?

While there are several sample options for drug tests, an employer might prefer hair drug testing because:

There’s a long detection period - usually up to 90 days
It’s a relatively noninvasive collection process
If an employee briefly abstains from drugs, it typically won’t affect the results
It’s very difficult to cheat a hair drug test, making results more accurate
There’s also greater result accuracy because a lab can retest the same sample multiple times

What are the downsides of a hair follicle test?

Although there are a lot of positives to hair drug testing, it isn’t nearly as popular as urine drug testing. There could be several reasons for this, including:

Hair drug tests are more expensive than other test methods
While hair samples can detect long-term drug use, they can’t detect recent use
There’s a longer processing time required to get results

What if the person being tested has no hair?

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. If the person being tested has no hair on their body, a hair drug test cannot be administered.

Are there ways to cheat a hair follicle test?

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. Because the sample is often collected in person, it would be very difficult to attempt a sample substitution.

How far back can a hair drug test detect drug use?

Hair drug tests have the longest detection period, and can typically detect drug use for up to 90 days. Depending on the drugs used, a hair sample can sometimes help determine when drug use occurred and whether it’s been discontinued.

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.