Test Hair for Drug Use

Employers often require drug tests of potential or event current employees. In some cases parents may also be concerned about the welfare of their child and want to confirm drug use. In either case, drug tests that analyze hair are becoming increasingly common because of their ability to provide up to a 90-day history of use for a variety of substances, thereby establishing a long-term pattern of consumption.[1] If you need or want to use a hair test for drug use, you can schedule an appointment with a laboratory or purchase an at home kit to analyze your hair sample.

Steps

Getting Hair Tested by a Laboratory

  1. Schedule an appointment. If you need or want to have a hair sample tested at a professional laboratory, make an appointment at a time that is convenient for you. This can help ensure that you get a sample that most effectively will provide results about longer-term patterns of drug use.[1]
    • It is much easier to skew blood and urine test results. If you need a definitive sample, a lab hair test may be the best option for you.[1]
    • Most professional labs offer hair testing that is safe, private, and secure and can give you relatively quick results, especially if you aren’t using drugs.[1]
    • Some labs will allow you submit your own sample through the mail.[2]
    • Groups such as Quest Diagnostics or other laboratory groups have offices all around the United States that you can contact about scheduling your drug test.
  2. Wash and dry your hair. The day of your lab appointment, wash and dry your hair before you arrive. This may help the lab more easily collect and test your hair sample.
    • You can use any gentle shampoo and conditioner you like to cleanse your hair.
    • Make sure to rinse any shampoo and conditioner out of your hair so that the lab can most effectively test your sample. You may also want to avoid using any products such as gel, mousse, or hairspray.
  3. Arrive at your appointment. Try and get to your appointment at least 15 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment. This can give you time to ask questions or fill out any necessary paperwork.
    • Make sure to take any diagnostic prescriptions your doctor or employer has ordered. You may require testing only for certain drugs including amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, or PCP.[3]
  4. Provide hair sample. In order to test your hair, the lab will collect a small sample from the crown of your head. The sample is collected under the supervision of someone to help ensure its integrity for whatever purpose you need it.[4]
    • The lab tech will cut about 100-200 strands of hair from the crown of your head.[4]
    • She will cut your hair as close to the scalp as possible, but will not pull out or test your hair follicles.[1] The sample collection should be a painless procedure.
  5. Learn about the testing process. The lab at which you choose to be tested will run tests on the sample you provided. Most labs use a two-tiered process to test hair samples.[3] This includes:
    • Screening a portion of the hair sample using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), which is a reliable method to analyze for longer-term drug use.
    • Samples that are suspected positive will undergo further testing using either gas chromatography or mass spectrometry to confirm use of specific substances.[3]
  6. Receive your results. Depending on the nature of your test results, you can receive the necessary information in as little as 24 hours.[4] Once you’ve received your results, provide them to the necessary employer or authority, or use the information for yourself.
    • Samples that are negative for drug use are often released within as little as 24 hours, which can help give you some relief if you’re nervous.[4]
    • If your sample tests positive or is on the border, it will likely undergo a second set of testing to confirm results and establish which substances are present in your system. Usually you can receive these results within 72 hours.[2]
    • If you have any concerns about your sample, you may want to have a second set of tests done.

Using an At-Home Testing Kit

  1. Research and buy a home testing kit. A variety of companies offer at-home hair testing kits for drug use. Since many have different services, you may want to consider which company and test best suits your need.[5]
    • Groups such as Quest Diagnostics and HairConfirm offer lab results for sample collected at home.[6]
    • These tests offer the same privacy and security as tests one has done in a laboratory.[6]
    • Some companies offer different types of tests that analyze your sample for a host of drugs from illicit substances to prescription medication. Choose the one best suited to your needs.[6]
    • You can order at-home hair drug testing online at lab sites and even from some pharmacies.[6]
  2. Clip a sample of hair. You’ll need to cut a small amount of your hair to send in to the laboratory associated with your at-home kit. Make sure to ensure the integrity of your test by clipping and sending a sample of your own hair, which may help prevent any uncomfortable situations in the event of later random drug tests.
    • Clip as close to your scalp as you are able without tearing out any of your strands.[5]
    • Collect approximately 100-200 strands of hair for the most accurate sample.[1]
    • Some tests may require few strands of hair, so follow packaging directions.[7]
    • Make sure your hair is clean when you collect the sample.
  3. Prepare your sample for mailing. You’ll need to mail your sample to the company associated with the at-home test you’ve chosen. Properly preparing can help minimize the risk of any cross contamination or losing the sample’s integrity.[5]
    • Place your hair sample inside of foil, a plastic bag, or other container provided by the kit.[5]
    • Once the sample is secure, put it in the envelope or box that accompanies the kit.[7]
    • Fill out any necessary documentation required by the at-home test. In some cases, this will require you to provide information online and along with your sample.[7]
  4. Ship your sample. Once you’ve sealed the sample and filled out any required documentation, ship the package to the respective testing lab. You can usually use regular mail or express services to obtain your results.[7]
    • Depending on what kind of testing you choose, you may only be able to use express shipping services.[7]
    • You may want to opt for delivery confirmation to ensure that your sample arrives and is tested in a timely manner.
  5. Register your sample online. Most at-home hair drug testing kits report results online using a secure system. If this is the case, register your sample identification number and passcode with the proper company to ensure that you get your results as quickly as possible.[7]
    • Make sure to note the sample ID number and passcode so that you can access your results without difficulty.[7]
    • You can track the results of your test using this online system.[7]
  6. Understand the testing process. Once the lab receives your sample, it will commence testing it. Labs may employ e a two step process to determine possible drug use.[3] The screening often includes:
    • Determining drug use through an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), a reliable test to confirm longer-term consumption.
    • Any sample that may test positive usually undergoes additional testing through gas chromatography or mass spectrometry, which can confirm use of specific substances.[3]
  7. Access your secure online results. Once the lab receives your sample, it takes about 24-48 hours to receive your results. Accessing the lab report site on a regular basis can help ensure you get your results as soon as possible.[7]
    • Log in to the company's website using the sample ID number and passcode provided in your kit.[6]
    • Evaluate the test results to see if you had positive or negative results, and, if positive, for which drug class(es).[7]
    • With a positive test result, the lab will include an assessment of the hair dose response. This can identify whether the donor is an occasional, weekend, daily or constant user.
    • You can download the test result report, print it and provide the hard copy to any party that may need it.

Tips

  • Tests can detect drugs within 2-3 days from the time of use up to 90 days.[3]
  • You cannot alter hair test results by using everyday products like shampoos, conditioners, bleach, hair color or other external chemicals.[3]
  • At-home kits to test hair for drug use may include the price of shipping the sample to a qualified laboratory for analysis.

Warnings

  • Never take a hair sample from a hairbrush. Labs cannot guarantee results from hairbrush samples.[3]

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/companies/employer/drug-screening/products-services/hair-testing/hair-testing-overview.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://blog.employersolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/quest-diagnostics-hair-testing-brochure-2015.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 http://blog.employersolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hair-testing-faqs-2015.pdf
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/companies/employer/drug-screening/products-services/hair-testing/hair-testing-overview.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://blog.employersolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/quest-diagnostics-hair-testing-brochure-2015.pdf
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 http://craigmedical.com/Hair_Drug_Test.htm
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 http://craigmedical.com/Hair_Drug_Test.htm
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