Standard Hair Drug Test

Hair drug test determines whether drugs and drug metabolites are present in hair samples. It detects the presence of drugs and their metabolites over an extended period, typically up to 90 days. Hair grows about 0.5 inches per month, therefore, a standard 1.5-inch hair segment from the scalp is used for a 90-day detection window. It is useful for identifying long-term or repeated drug use, rather than recent use, as it takes about 5~7 days for drugs to appear in hair. It is commonly used for employment screenings, legal cases, and rehabilitation monitoring.

Drugs and drug metabolites in hair samples will be determined by using immunoassay and/or high-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS)-based tests. The Standard Hair Drug Test detects the following analytes:

Amphetamines (methamphetamine, MDMA)
Barbiturate
Benzodiazepine
Cocaine
Fentanyl
Marijuana (THC)
Opiates (heroin, codeine, morphine
Oxycodone
Phencyclidine (PCP)

If your required analytes are not included in the standard hair drug test, you may request a customized panel for specific confirmation testing.

Sample Collection and Shipping

For hair drug test, cuts about 90–120 strands of hair (roughly the diameter of a pencil) close to the scalp as possible by a trained collector, usually from the back of the head. If head hair is unavailable, body hair (arm, leg, chest) can be used, though it may have a shorter detection window.

Place the sample in a clean, sealed foil or plastic container to prevent contamination. Seal the sample in a tamper-evident bag and ship the sample together with matched lab requisition form by tracked courier (FedEx, UPS, USPS). The sample is shipped at room temperature without need of special handling.