Product Details
Hair Drug Testing FAQ
How long do drugs stay in the hair?
Drugs don’t have the same lifespans, but nearly all of them can stay in the hair for up to 90 days, and sometimes even past that period. Some of the factors that determine how long drugs will stay in the system are the type of drug used, frequency of use, how much was used, and drug tolerance.
How soon will drugs be detectable in hair?
It takes time for drugs to be detectable in hair. A hair test will most likely be negative if drugs were used just within the past three to seven days. Hair drug testing is best for detecting long-term and frequent drug use, while a urine drug test is excellent for short-term drug use.
How accurate is hair testing?
Hair testing is the most accurate and effective method of finding users of drugs. The testing technology is designed to show the presence of drug levels that would only be consistent with the ingestion of drugs. All samples are tested using a radioimmunoassay screen. Before any positive test result is reported, the sample is subjected to a second, confirmatory test using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which is considered the gold standard for forensic drug testing.
What drugs does HairConfirm® screen for?
HairConfirm® screens for five different drug classes: cocaine (cocaine and benzoylecgonine), marijuana, opiates (codeine, morphine and 6-monacteyl morphine), amphetamine (meth/amphetamine and ecstasy) and phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust).
What time period does the HairConfirm® test cover?
HairConfirm® will detect drugs for an average period of 90 days.
How does hair testing compare to urinalysis?
When compared to the more traditional forms of testing, i.e., urine testing, hair samples can detect a longer period of drug use.
How effective is hair testing in detecting drug users?
In side-by-side comparison studies with urinalysis, hair drug testing uncovered significantly more drug use. In two independent studies, hair drug testing uncovered 4 to 8 times as many drug users as urinalysis for evidence of drug use.
Can a hair test detect one-time use?
Hair testing is best at determining long-term drug use. The hair specimen of a one-time user is less likely to yield positive test results, especially if they only ingested a small dose of drugs.
Can hair be affected by cross-reacting substances, such as over-the-counter medications?
Enzyme-immunoassay antibodies (EIA), similar to those used to test urine, are used for the initial drug screening in hair; therefore, the potential for substances such as over-the-counter medications to cause a false positive screening result does exist. To eliminate the possibility of reporting a false-positive result due to cross-reactivity, our laboratory performs gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for all specimens that screen positive.
Can tests be run on people with little or no hair?
Hair can be collected from several head locations and combined to obtain the required amount of hair. If the head hair is too short, body hair can be used as a substitute.
How does the test work?
Using the detailed instructions as a guide, collect a hair sample of approximately 90-120 hairs. Mail the hair sample to our laboratory, using the pre-addressed envelope provided. The laboratory will analyze the hair sample for evidence of drug use. Using your HairConfirm® Specimen ID number, passcode and email address, you must register your test once you have mailed the samples to the laboratory. Go to the results section to obtain the results.
How long will it take to receive the results?
We know it is important that you receive results as quickly as possible. HairConfirm® has the fastest turnaround time for hair testing. Using the shipping label included in this kit, the laboratory will receive the sample the next business day. Tests results are available 2 business days after the sample has been received by the laboratory.
Is your laboratory accredited?
Our lab is accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and all tests are supervised, reviewed and approved by Ph.D. staff scientists. We have performed over 1.5 million hair tests.
What cut-off levels are used by HairConfirm?
Pg/mg=picogram per milligram of hair
Amphetamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy - 500 pg/mg (screening and confirmation)
Cocaine and benzoylecgonine - 500 pg/mg (screening and confirmation)
Opiates - codeine, morphine and 6-MAM (heroin metabolite) - 300 pg/mg (screening and confirmation)
PCP - 300 pg/mg (screening and confirmation)
Marijuana- carboxy- THC 1 pg/mg (screening), 0.3 pg/mg (confirmation)
Does the lab provide gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) confirmation for all positive results?
Yes, GC/MS confirmation is performed on all positive results to avoid any false positives.
How will I obtain the results?
After you have mailed the hair sample, you must register your test at Ezhometest.com to obtain your results. You will need your specimen ID number, passcode and email address to register. The results will be available approximately 2-3 business days after the laboratory receives the hair sample.
How will I read the results?
The results will indicate a positive or negative result for each drug class. In addition, when a donor tests positive, the result will provide an assessment of hair dose response to identify whether the donor is a low (occasional), medium (weekend, daily) or high (constant) user (not including marijuana).
Will the test result remain confidential?
Yes, the results are kept completely confidential and are for your use only. No names or social security numbers are used in the testing process. The only identification is the specimen ID number provided with the kit.
Does hair color affect results?
The amount of melanin determines hair color in the hair. It has been shown experimentally, through actual hair samples, as well as determined in court, that hair color has NO basis in fact.