Hair Drug Test - Illegal And Prescription Drugs

Detection Period – 5-90 days

Want to know an up to 90 day drug history? Hair drug testing does this for you. Now you can also exclusively with this test learn about prescription drug abuse. These days, Vicodin and OxyContin abuse is more common than the abuse of some illegal drugs. As with the illegal drugs included in this test, the lab will issue a comprehensive online report detailing prescription drug use over a 90 day period.

To perform a hair drug test, all you must do is collect the required amount of hair. The hair strands collected should fill the diameter of a soda straw and amount to 90-120 strands (please collect more if the hair is thin or extremely fine).

The length of the hair collected determines the length of the drug history you will receive. Each half inch the lab is able to analyze is equivalent to 30 days of drug use. Therefore, hair that is only an inch long will allow you to learn a 60 day drug history. Collecting hair that is at least an inch and a half long will give you the maximum amount of drug history, 90 days.

Included with your test is a Specimen ID Card, which has the unique and anonymous ID number and passcode you will need to receive your results. Be sure to keep this as you will need it to collect results. Also included is a postage paid First Class Envelope for sending your hair sample to the lab.

Processing is finished within 2-3 business days by the lab. At that point you can go online with your anonymous Specimen ID number and passcode and read your results.

If you are interested in learning more about hair drug tests, please visit the Hair Drug Test section of our blog.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – HAIR CONFIRM EXPRESS HAIR DRUG TEST

Q: How much hair must I collect?

Finally, you must collect enough hair. 90 to 120 strands are generally needed. More hair will be needed if the hair is extremely thin or short (less than an inch and a half long). Collect from several locations if hair is very short.

Q: What timeframe is used in this hair follicle drug test?

A: Traces of drug use appear in hair about 5 to 7 days after use. 5 to 7 days gives the hair time to grow out of the scalp, bringing the hair carrying traces of drug molecules to where it can be cut. The earliest time period that can be accurately evaluated by the laboratory is 30 days. Therefore, if drug use was suspected a week ago, you could cut your hair sample as early as 37 days afterward. Results are limited to 90 days from the day the hair sample was taken, regardless of the length of the hair provided.

Q: What drugs does this hair follicle drug test screen for?

A: The illegal drugs tested for include: Marijuana (THC), Amphetamines (AMP), Methamphetamines (mAMP), Opiates (OPI) (which includes Codeine, Morphine & Heroin), Ecstasy (MDMA), Cocaine (COC) and Phencyclidine (PCP). The prescription drugs tested for include hydrocodone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone. These are the generic names for a variety of brand prescription drugs you may be familiar with - Vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin (oxycodone) and Dilaudid (hydromorphone). Brand names vary, but hydrocodone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone are always tested for.

Q: How is the hair tested?

A: Once at the laboratory, the hair is pulverized into liquid form. Once that happens the lab can analyze the metabolites inside and determine drug use.

Q: Can I submit body hair for this hair drug test?

A: Yes. Body hair and head hair will be analyzed in the same manner by the laboratory. The important thing is to not mix head hair and body hair together when you submit your hair drug test. Be sure to mark on the security label when submitting your hair drug test whether you are submitting head hair or body hair.

Whether body hair or head hair is submitted makes no difference in terms of results. For each half inch of head hair or body hair submitted, a 30 day drug history will be provided. It is important when collecting body hair to collect more hair than you would if collecting hair from the head though. Body hair is thinner than hair from the head, and you need 100 strands of body hair or more when submitting your hair drug test. The lab needs an adequate amount of hair in order to carry out the test.

Q: Why can't I use hair from a hairbrush or shower drain for this hair drug test?

A: It is not advisable that a hair sample is taken from a hairbrush or any other source (e.g. pillow or shower drain) as this sample may be contaminated (with others' hair) and it will not be possible for the laboratory to determine to root ends of the sample. If a sample is not collected properly and prepared as per the instructions it may be rejected by the laboratory. The best way to obtain a hair sample is with your loved one's knowledge and cooperation and by collecting as provided in the instructions.

Q: How does a hair drug test compare with urine drug tests currently on the market?

A: Unlike a hair drug test, a urine drug test can only check to see if drugs were used within the previous 2-3 day period (for most drugs). Hair drug testing can check for drug use within a 90 day period. Urine tests can also be beaten in a variety of ways and are more embarrassing.

Q: Will the results come back positive if my child is not taking drugs, but has been in contact with drug users?

To rule out the possibility of external contamination (like exposure to marijuana smoke), HairConfirm testing where appropriate looks for both parent & metabolite (byproduct) of drug usage. Metabolites are only produced by the body and cannot be an environmental contaminant. When testing marijuana HairConfirm only detects the metabolite of marijuana (THC-COOH).

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.

Differences Between Body and Head Hair

Body hair and head hair cannot be mixed when you submit your sample. The different types of hair have their own advantages.

Body Hair

Can give you a longer drug history - a sample of 1.5 inches in length body hair can tell you up to 5-6 months of drug history (Please note - 1.5 inches from the root is as much hair as will be examined by the lab, regardless of how long the hair you submit is).

Head Hair

Easier to collect. A sample of hair at least 1.5 inches long will provide a 90 day drug history. No more than that 1.5 inch of hair will be analyzed by the lab though, so if you want to learn about drug activity going back further than 90 days, you may want to submit body hair for your hair drug test.