Drug tests are often done to determine if a person has been taking drugs. Nowadays, apart from personal drug tests, many businesses have made it compulsory for their employees to submit a drug test report that is clean. It is done to ensure that the organization remains out of the influence of drugs and that work efficiency increases.
Although the most common way to have a drug test for a person is by collecting their urine sample and submitting it to the lab for drug testing, there are other efficient ways to test whether a person has consumed drugs. One such method is by taking the hair follicle of the person and testing it for drug consumption.
The hair follicle drug test is acceptable by many organizations, and it is even proven to be better and more effective than the urine drug test.Also, the hair follicle drug test is not as clumsy and messy as the urine-based drug test is! Well, the hair follicle drug test is good enough; it is better to know more about it and let’s find out how the hair follicle drug test is different from the urine drug test.
What is the Hair Follicle Drug Test?
A Hair Follicle drug test detects all illicit drug consumption between one to three months. In a hair follicle drug test, a hair sample, typically from the scalp, is taken and sent to the laboratory for overnight testing.
The purpose of plucking out a hair sample from the roots is because when a person intakes drugs, the components get mixed in the bloodstream. This same blood reaches through the blood vessels to the hair and helps them to grow. Hence, the hair is used to test for drugs.
For much efficiency and accuracy, the hair follicle undergoes a two-way test. At times, the report of the hair follicle drug test might show “inconclusive,” which indicates that the laboratory is unable to conclude the presence of drugs due to poor hair samples. In such a case, you will be asked to give another hair follicle.
Difference Between Hair Follicle and Urine Drug Test
The prime difference that can be laid out between the hair follicle drug test and the urine drug test is of the period up to which both the samples can detect the drugs. While the hair follicle drug test gives results for the drug consumption for 60 days to 90 days, the urine drug test is done if you have taken drugs recently for 2 to 3 days.
It also depends on the type of drug you are testing for. If it is cocaine, it is preferably said that you have the hair follicle test done. Although the urine drug test is easy and simple, there are chances of cheating. On the other hand, the hair follicle drug test is effective and accurate without cheating.
How Accurate is the Hair Follicle Drug Test?
For most business enterprises, the most appealing factor of a hair follicle drug test that sets it apart from the urine drug test is that it can detect drug usage for a more extended period than the latter one.
For instance, if you have consumed drugs in three months or so, you will get a positive drug test report, meaning that you will be caught. If the drug test were a pre-employment one, you would not get a job, and it will even impact your reputation and overall life. Even after a two-step testing process, the hair follicle drug test is not entirely accurate.
The coloring in your hair, the growth rate of your hair, and the amount of sweat your body secretes are some of the most crucial factors that can alter the drug test reports drastically. Also, the hair follicle drug test can not tell the exact date on which the drug was consumed. It is, for this reason, that hair develops at different rates for different people.
CONCLUSION
Both the hair follicle method and the urine collection method of drug testing are prevalent in use by people. According to a survey, the urine drug test is done by 90 percent of the employees at the workplace, while the hair follicle one is only preferred by 7 percent of the people. This is major because most employees have found ways to cheat in urine-based drug tests.
While the urine drug test is easy and convenient on the one hand, it is not entirely accurate on the other. Contrary to this, the hair follicle drug test is simple and precise. You can not lie or cheat in this drug test. Moreover, for testing for certain specific drugs, such as cocaine, the hair follicle method is better-efficient and more reliable than the urine drug test.
All in all, as per your convenience and preferences, you can undergo a drug test by going for any of the samples that you are willing to provide to the laboratory. At the end of the day, it is necessary to get a clean and favorable drug test report.
Michael S. Bardwell, an expert in workplace drug testing, specializes in synthetic urine and its impact on drug tests. As a seasoned specimen collector, he navigates the intricate realm of drug testing laboratories certified by the Department of Health and Human Services. His insights extend to drug-free workplace programs, and he collaborates seamlessly with medical review officers (MRO) in ensuring accurate specimen collections for comprehensive drug tests.