|  | Public Health Safety | Work Safety

Types of Hair Follicle Testing

Hair follicle testing, or hair screening, is a common test conducted by potential employers or parole officers. Specifically, by taking a small sample of hair, specific drugs are identified by measuring metabolites that are only picked up after the drug has passed through the body. It's an alternative drug test to urine sampling. There are two basic types of hair follicle testing: home-based and lab-based.

  1. How Hair Follicle Testing Works

    • A standard hair follicle test measures a piece of hair cut as close to the scalp as possible. This is because the longer the piece of hair, the longer the time period the test will be able to measure for drug use. Typically, this period is about 90 days. The hair follicle test then measures the drug metabolites that have grown into the piece of hair, specifically the inner shaft which is known as the "cortex." This is where drug metabolites are found after being deposited into newly formed hair shafts. The test is zero-tolerance, meaning even the smallest trace of drugs will show up.

    Home-Based Testing

    • Home-based hair follicle testing, also known as self-collection hair testing, is intended for fast hair drug testing needs. It consists of taking the hair sample at home, sealing it in a specialty home kit, and then sending it to a laboratory for testing via prepaid priority shipping. Results are reviewed by a medical review officer. This method is typically used by parole officers and parents who suspect their child might be taking illegal drugs.

    Lab-Based Testing

    • Lab-based hair follicle testing is typically used for pre-employment purposes. It's similar to home-based testing, except instead of taking the hair sample yourself, the hair sample is taken at a laboratory by a trained technician. This method cuts down on any tampering that could potentially be done with a home-based test. This test is often the last step in acquiring a new job. Potential employers typically send the interviewee for a drug test following an interview.

    Other Information

    • It's often thought that bleaches, shampoos and other external contaminants can be used prior to a hair follicle test to dilute the any evidence of drugs. However, according to Testcountry.com, such products have no known effect on test results. This is partially because all laboratories thoroughly wash away any masking agents before the hair is tested. Another question with hair follicle testing regards the case of people who are hairless or who have shaved heads. In their cases, other body hair can be used for testing.

Work Safety - Related Articles