If you want to assess the use of substance over a long period, hair follicle drug testing can be conducted. By doing this test, the use of illegal drugs, misuse of prescription medications and other substances such as tobacco and alcohol can be detected. How long does it take to detect drugs in the hair follicle? The explanation is presented below along with some other information related to the hair follicle drug test.
Detection Time of Hair Follicle Drug Test
Generally, hair drug screening can give you the result up to 90 days. The length of detection time depends on the substance. However, it is important for you to note that the test will not be able to detect the use of drugs if the use of drugs is done within the last 7 to 10 days because there must be enough hair growth that can be used for testing.
As explained on the Spring Hill Recovery Center, detection time of hair follicle drug test is longer than other types of testing such as blood drug testing.
The Process of Hair Drug Test
To take a hair drug test, the first thing which is needed is, of course, a hair sample. The hair from the head is often used because the growth rates of the hair are more consistent than hair from other areas. Nevertheless, hair of other body areas such as hair from the leg or armpit can also be used if the hair from head is not enough for the test.
How much hair is needed for a drug test? Ranging from 100 to 200 strands of hair is needed for the sample where it is cut by the collector. The hair must be cut as close as to the scalp. How about the length of the hair? The minimum length of the hair for testing is a half-inch.
After the collector collects the hair, then it will be cleaned. It is aimed to clean the hair from any external substances. And then, the hair will be tested up to two times by using chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/ MS) and chromatography. Analyzing the hair is done in a laboratory or through a kit which is mailed to the collection site.
In general, the first results of a drug test can be found out in around 24 hours. If the result is negative, then the test will stop here. However, if the result is positive, the hair will do the second testing phase to find out the type of drug used.
Does Bleaching or Dying Hair Affect the Results of a Hair Test?
If the hair of the person who will be tested is dyed, bleached, styled, or washed, it will not affect the results. So, if you want someone to do a hair drug test, and the person did something to their hair as mentioned above, you do not have to worry because it will not give an effect to the results.
Substances That Can Be Detected in a Hair Test
According to the Spring Hill Recovery Center, there are a lot of types of substances that are able to be detected by a hair follicle drug test including cocaine, opiates and opioids, amphetamines, nicotine, hallucinogens such as phencyclidine (PCP), benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, and ecstasy (molly, MDMA). Alcohol and prescription medication such as methadone, medications for mental illness, and opioid painkillers such as codeine can also be detected by a hair test.
However, some substances such as THC, Cannabis, and similar substances are slightly more difficult to be detected by a hair drug test because these substances do not absorb as much as substances into hair as other drugs.
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