Hair Testing at a Glance
Q: Do I need an appointment for a hair test?
A: Yes, appointments are required for hair testing.
Q: How long will the collection take?
A: Collections can take 15 minutes to an hour depending on the number of segments needed for testing.
Q: What is a segment?
A: A segment of hair is between ½ to 1½ inches in length. Segments are tested separately.
Q: How long before I get my results?
A: Results are typically available in 5 to 10 business days.
Q: How much hair is needed for a test?
A: Generally the thickness of a pencil when loosely bunched is sufficient for a hair specimen. Specimens taken from the body need to be about the size of a small cotton ball.
Q: Can I test a hair sample I collected myself?
A: Yes. If you are in the St. Louis area, you may bring the sample directly to our office for testing. If you are outside of the St. Louis area, please contact us for shipping details.
Hair Drug Testing
Hair drug testing is used to show a history of drug use. Urine drug testing is better for showing recent drug use. Hair and urine testing can be taken together to provide a more complete picture of the situation.
Hair specimens are typically taken from the head and as close to the scalp as possible. Body hair may also be taken from the arms, legs, torso, or the face of males if head hair is insufficient. Head hair grows at approximately ½ inch per month and takes approximately one to two weeks to grow through the scalp to a level accessible to scissors. The first 1½ inches of hair is tested by the laboratory, therefore, a hair analysis of 1½ inches can provide approximately 90 day's worth of drug use history. Body hair has varying growth rates and can provide approximately one year's worth of drug use history.
Because of the relative slow growth of hair, a single use of a drug is not typically detected during a hair analysis. Hair testing is best used to ascertain if the donor consumed drugs on a regular basis in the past.
All hair tests are confirmed by GC/MS and MRO review if necessary.
Segmenting Hair
If the donor’s hair is sufficient, the sample can be segmented into groups. The purpose of segmenting the sample is to provide drug use history for periods beyond the standard 90 day's time frame. Each segment must meet the same ½ inch minimum rule as the first segment. Segmenting is available on the Standard and Limit of Detection hair drug testing panels. This table provides a general guide for lengths and detection periods of segmented samples:
| Length of Hair | ½ - 1½ | 2 - 3½ | 4 - 5½ | 6 - 7½ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detection Period | 1 - 3 Months | 4 - 6 Months | 7 - 9 Months | 10 - 12 Months |
Hair Testing Panels
Hair testing is available in a 5 panel, Limit of Detection and Environmental Exposure test. The following shows the panels and the substances tested for in those panels:
5 Panel
Limit of Detection
Environmental Exposure
|
Environmental Exposure Hair Testing
This hair test shows whether there has been passive contact with a substance.
Environmental Exposure testing is normally used to test children or teenagers when there is concern that the child may have been exposed to an environment where drugs were being used.