7-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test: How It Works | AMH Nationwide
Understanding 7-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test How It Works for Reliable Results
A 7-panel hair follicle drug test how it works involves collecting a small hair sample, which is then analyzed by national labs for drug metabolites. The process includes an initial screening, confirmation testing, and a certified Medical Review Officer review for accuracy. Call (877) 731-6362 to arrange your collection.
How is the hair sample collected for a 7-panel hair follicle drug test?
The hair sample collection is a straightforward process in a controlled setting. A trained collector cuts approximately 1.5 inches of hair close to the scalp, typically from the crown or back of the head. The amount collected is about 100-120 strands, enough for testing the detection window of up to 90 days.
If head hair is unavailable, body hair may be collected, but this can affect the detection window. The collector ensures the sample is properly sealed and labeled before sending it to one of the five national lab networks: Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, or ExperTox.
There is no online ordering for this test; the requester is provided a lab order and directed to a collection site. Call (877) 731-6362 to schedule your collection appointment.
What happens during lab analysis of a 7-panel hair follicle drug test?
Once received, the hair sample undergoes a two-step analysis process. First, an initial immunoassay screening tests for drug metabolites in the hair. This screening is sensitive but not definitive, so any presumptive positive results proceed to confirmation testing.
Confirmation testing uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for precise identification of specific drugs and metabolites. This step ensures accuracy and eliminates false positives.
The labs involved in this testing are Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, and ExperTox, ensuring comprehensive and standardized analysis across the network.
Which drugs are included in the 7-panel hair follicle drug test?
The 7-panel hair follicle drug test screens for seven common drug classes. The exact panel includes:
These drugs are detected by identifying their metabolites embedded in the hair shaft, reflecting drug use over the past 90 days.
What detection window does a 7-panel hair follicle drug test cover?
A 7-panel hair follicle drug test typically detects drug use within the previous 90 days. Hair grows approximately 0.5 inches per month, so the standard 1.5-inch sample represents about three months of history.
This long detection window is an advantage over urine or saliva tests, which detect more recent use. However, hair testing cannot detect drug use in the past 7 days because it takes time for metabolites to appear in the hair shaft after ingestion.
This makes the 7-panel hair follicle drug test suitable for monitoring long-term drug use patterns.
Schedule Your 7-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test Today
Contact AMH Nationwide to obtain your lab order and locate a collection site. Call (877) 731-6362 to start the process.
How does the Medical Review Officer (MRO) review process work?
After lab testing, every non-negative result is reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO). The MRO examines the lab reports and may contact the individual to verify or explain prescriptions, medical conditions, or other legitimate reasons for the presence of drug metabolites.
This review ensures the accuracy and fairness of test results before final reporting. The MRO’s role is critical to maintain the integrity of the testing process and to prevent false positives from being reported.
Only after MRO review is the final result reported to the test requester.
What is the overall end-to-end process of a 7-panel hair follicle drug test?
The complete process begins with the requester obtaining a lab order from AMH Nationwide. The individual then visits an authorized collection site for hair sample collection. The sample is sent to one of five national labs for analysis, starting with screening and followed by confirmation if needed.
Next, a certified Medical Review Officer reviews any non-negative findings. Finally, the results are reported back to the requester. This process ensures reliable, accurate drug testing with a detection window of up to 90 days.
To begin, call (877) 731-6362 to get your lab order and find a collection site near you.
Common Questions
Hair treatments like bleaching or dyeing can potentially reduce drug metabolite levels, but the test is designed to detect drugs despite such treatments. It is important to disclose any recent hair treatments to the collector.
Drugs typically appear in hair follicles about 7 days after use because it takes time for metabolites to be incorporated into the hair shaft.
No. DOT-regulated safety-sensitive testing requires federally certified urine testing under 49 CFR Part 40. Hair follicle testing is used for non-DOT roles.
Any positive or non-negative result is reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer who may contact the individual to verify legitimate explanations before final reporting.
Lab analysis typically takes several days depending on the lab workload, with initial screening followed by confirmation as needed.
No. AMH Nationwide routes samples to one of five national lab networks: Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, or ExperTox, based on logistics and availability.
Ready to get started?
AMH Nationwide provides the lab order and arranges collection nationwide. Every non-negative result reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer. Call (877) 731-6362 or contact us.