Do companies do hair drug tests
Do Companies Do Hair Drug Tests for Accurate Long-Term Drug Detection?
Do companies do hair drug tests to detect drug use over an extended period? Yes, many employers use hair follicle drug tests to identify substance use within the past 90 days. These tests provide reliable results reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer. Call (877) 731-6362 to schedule testing or learn more.
Do companies do hair drug tests for employee screening?
Yes, companies do hair drug tests as part of their employee drug screening programs. Hair follicle tests detect drug metabolites embedded in hair shafts, offering a detection window of up to 90 days. This makes them useful for employers seeking long-term substance use information beyond urine or saliva tests.
Employers often use hair drug testing for pre-employment screening, random testing, or post-incident investigations. The test is less invasive and harder to adulterate than urine testing, providing reliable results.
How do hair follicle drug tests work in workplace settings?
Hair follicle drug tests analyze a small sample of hair cut close to the scalp. The lab examines the hair for traces of drug metabolites that enter the hair follicle from the bloodstream.
AMH Nationwide coordinates the lab order and directs the requester to one of our 20,000+ nationwide collection sites. Samples are sent to one of five national lab networks: Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, or ExperTox.
Every non-negative hair drug test is reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer to confirm results before reporting.
What companies do hair follicle drug tests for employment purposes?
Various companies across industries use hair follicle drug tests, especially those with safety-sensitive roles or zero-tolerance policies. This includes construction firms, transportation companies (non-DOT roles), manufacturing plants, and government contractors.
Employers choose hair testing for its ability to detect drug use over a longer period compared to urine or saliva tests, helping to identify habitual substance use.
Are there limitations to hair follicle drug tests companies should know?
Hair drug tests cannot detect very recent drug use within the past 7 days because it takes time for drug metabolites to incorporate into hair. For immediate detection, urine or saliva tests are preferred.
Certain hair treatments like bleaching or dyeing can affect test results, although labs account for this during analysis.
Passive exposure to drugs is unlikely to cause a positive hair test because the metabolites must enter the hair follicle from the bloodstream.
Ready to Arrange Hair Drug Testing?
Contact AMH Nationwide to schedule hair follicle drug testing through our extensive national lab network. Call (877) 731-6362 for assistance.
How do companies arrange hair drug testing with AMH Nationwide?
AMH Nationwide does not offer online ordering. To arrange hair drug testing, companies must call (877) 731-6362 to initiate the lab order.
We then direct the requester to a convenient collection site within our nationwide network.
Test results are processed by one of five national labs and reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer before final reporting to the employer.
What is the cost of hair follicle drug testing for companies?
Pricing for hair follicle drug tests varies depending on the drug panel selected and the detection window required.
Factors that influence cost include the number of drugs tested and the complexity of the analysis.
For an accurate price quote, companies should call (877) 731-6362 to discuss their specific testing needs.
Are hair follicle drug tests accepted for DOT safety-sensitive positions?
No, hair follicle drug tests are not accepted for Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated safety-sensitive roles.
DOT requires federally certified urine drug testing protocols under 49 CFR Part 40.
Hair testing is suitable for non-DOT roles or employers with their own drug testing policies.
Common Questions
Many companies use hair follicle drug tests, especially when they need to detect long-term drug use. However, some prefer urine or saliva testing for recent use detection. The choice depends on company policy and testing goals.
Hair follicle drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days prior to the test. This extended detection period helps identify consistent or past drug use patterns.
No, hair drug tests detect drug metabolites incorporated from the bloodstream, so passive exposure is unlikely to cause a positive result.
Common drugs tested include marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. Panels may vary based on employer requirements.
No, DOT requires urine drug testing under federally certified protocols. Hair tests are used for non-DOT roles or other employer testing programs.
Companies must call (877) 731-6362 to initiate the lab order. AMH Nationwide then directs them to a collection site within our national lab network for sample collection.
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.