Hair Drug Test for Employers - Workplace Drug Test

Hair Drug Tests are rapidly becoming an effective method of drug testing employees.  Employers are well aware of the liability, loss of productivity and health issues that arise when an employee abuses drugs.  Drug testing is commonplace in the workplace for random drug testing, pre-employment drug testing or for other reasons such as cause, suspicion, return to duty, post accident or event follow up.  However, employee drug testing can be expensive and uncomfortable in the work environment.  A hair drug test gives employers an on-site solution that is accurate, reliable and less invasive and less likely to be altered or tampered with by the person being tested.

A hair drug test uses a small sample of hair that is cut at the scalp and mailed to a laboratory.  The results are provided online in a report format that provides a 90 day drug use history.

The Hair Drug Test for Business by HairConfirm screens for the five drug classes as mandated by the Federal Government:

Cocaine (cocaine & benzoylecgonine)
Marijuana
Opiates (Codeine, Morphine & 6-monacteyl morphine)
Amphetamine (including Methamphetamine & Ecstasy)
Phencyclidine (PCP)

You can also learn about the exclusive features available only with HairConfirm products by reading our article Hair Drug Tests - The Only Tests That Can Tell You How Often Drugs Are Used.

Click here for Hair Drug Test Instructions

For the Complete Training Guide for How to take a Hair Sample for a Hair Drug Test

1. Check and compare custody and control form with hair pouch seal

2. Check hair donor identity with photo ID and complete Step 1 on form

3. Collect hair specimen as per Hair Drug Test Hair Collection Instructions

4. Identify on form if hair is head hair or body hair, do not check both

5. Date the hair pouch seal and have donor initial the seal

6. Collector completes Step 4 on form

7. Donor completes Step 5 on form

8. Prepare sample and form for mailing

9. Register test online

Q: Why did Marijuana (THC) show up negative?

In some cases, when the donor has used marijuana, a hair drug test, including HairConfirm, may be unable to detect the THC metabolite due to the fact that the metabolite was unable to bind with the hair shaft. This can be caused by the type/quality of the marijuana smoked/ingested, or by what it has been mixed with, e.g. tobacco. As a result, the result for marijuana may be negative. This is only the case with THC and not with the other illicit drugs (COC, Heroin..etc). In most cases with adults it takes smoking 5-6 full joints in order for enough of the drug to "stick" to the hair to show a positive- this is an average number. If the amount consumed by the individual was less than that it might not show up in a drug test.

In the case where a long term THC use is present (like medical marijuana) sometimes the individual’s body can create a masking agent that would hinder the marijuana in a drug test.

Statistics have shown that teenagers who have used marijuana are more likely to use other potentially more dangerous drugs, than those who have never used marijuana. So if you suspect the individual may be using marijuana it is important to remember that you are also testing for those illicit drugs.