A hair follicle drug test involves collecting a small sample of hair for testing in a laboratory. The result of the test shows if a person has been taking a drug or prescription medications for the previous three months. If you are curious about these tests, this guide is for you.
In this guide, we will explain the importance of Hair follicle drug tests, the process of the test, and, if you are conducting the test at home, how to do it properly.
What Is A Hair Follicle Drug Test?
A hair follicle drug test, also known as a hair drug test, is used to detect specific drugs in an individual’s system. In this process, a small sample of hair is taken from close to the scalp to determine drug use over a certain period of time, usually three months.
A hair follicle test can detect:
- Cannabis
- opiates, such as heroin, codeine, and morphine
- amphetamines, including methamphetamine, and MDEA (eve)
- cocaine
- phencyclidine
Is Hair Follicle Drug Testing Important?
Yes, hair follicle drug testing is very important. This is done for workplaces, legal cases, or rehabilitation programs. These programmes require long-term substance monitoring. Urine or saliva tests detect recent drug use, and hair follicle tests can reveal patterns of use over several months.
Key Benefits Include:
Long detection window: Detects drug use up to 90 days back.
Difficult to cheat: Washing or cutting hair does not remove traces of drugs altogether.
Non-invasive procedure: Only a small hair sample is needed (around 100–120 strands).
Accurate results: Data is reliable for employers, law enforcement, and medical professionals.
What Happens in the Process of a Hair Follicle Drug Test?
The testing process is painless and straightforward. Here’s how it typically works:
Sample Collection:
A trained technician cuts a small section of hair (around 1.5 inches long) from the crown of your head, close to the scalp. If a person has little or no head hair, body hair can also be used as a substitute.
Laboratory Analysis:
The sample is sent to a certified laboratory, where it undergoes a two-step process:
- Initial screening: to detect the presence of any drugs.
- Confirmatory testing: using more advanced techniques (like GC/MS) for accuracy.
Results Reporting:
Results are usually available within 2–3 days. A positive result indicates that the person has used one or more of the detected substances within the past 90 days.
How Do You Do a Hair Follicle Drug Test at Home?
If you want to perform a hair follicle test at home, several reliable home drug testing kits are available.
Here’s how to do it properly:
- Order a certified at-home testing kit from a reputable company.
- Collect a small hair sample (around 100 strands) of your head using clean scissors.
- Seal the sample in the collection envelope provided with the kit.
- Mail the sample to the designated lab using the pre-paid packaging.
- Wait for results, which are typically available online within two to three business days.
While at-home kits are convenient, they still rely on professional laboratory testing for final analysis. This ensures reliable and confidential results.
