---
title: "Hair Follicle Drug Testing"
description: "Find hair follicle drug testing near you with AMH Nationwide's 20,000+ collection sites and certified MRO review. Call us now at (877) 731-6362."
author: "AMH Nationwide"
date: "2026-07-16"
tags: ["hair follicle drug testing"]
canonical: "https://amhnationwide.com/hair-follicle-drug-testing-ve-preview/"
last_updated: "2026-08-26"
---

# Hair Follicle Drug Testing

**By AMH Nationwide** | July 16, 2026

Find hair follicle drug testing near you with AMH Nationwide's 20,000+ collection sites and certified MRO review. Call us now at (877) 731-6362.

---

Hair follicle drug testing is a laboratory service that analyzes a scalp hair sample or body hair sample to detect drug use over an extended window, commonly up to about 90 days. AMH Nationwide arranges collection at Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, and ExperTox sites nationwide, with every non-negative result reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer. Call (877) 731-6362 to schedule or contact us.

What It Is

## What Is Hair Follicle Drug Testing?

“Hair follicle drug testing” is a laboratory method that analyzes hair strands for drugs and drug metabolites deposited in the hair shaft as it grows. Unlike a [urine](https://amhnationwide.com/urine-drug-testing/) or saliva sample, which reflects only recent use, a hair sample carries a longer record because each segment of hair corresponds to a period of growth. AMH Nationwide sources this testing through our national lab networks, each with several laboratory accreditations listed on their website.

**Standard sample:** a 1.5 inch segment of hair closest to the scalp, representing the most recent portion of growth.

**Extended samples:** longer segments can be requested and analyzed to build a longer historical picture for a court, employer, or program.

**Segmented analysis:** because hair grows at a fairly predictable average rate, laboratories can section a longer sample into monthly segments to build a rough timeline.

**Lab network:** collection and processing routed through one of our national lab networks, each with several laboratory accreditations listed on their website.

**Result review:** every non-negative screen goes through confirmation testing and Medical Review Officer review before release.

What separates hair follicle testing from urine or oral fluid testing is mostly the length of the look-back window. A urine test tells a requester about the last few days; a hair test tells a requester about a pattern over roughly the last three months.

[Detection Window](https://amhnationwide.com/hair-follicle-drug-test-detection-window/)

## How Far Back Does a Hair Test Detect Drug Use?

A standard 1.5 inch hair follicle sample is generally described as covering roughly the last 90 days of drug use history, based on average scalp hair growth rates published by [SAMHSA](https://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/drug-testing) and used by [Quest Diagnostics](https://www.questdiagnostics.com/) and [LabCorp](https://www.labcorp.com/) in their hair testing methodology. Very recent use, in the days immediately before collection, may not yet register because hair has not yet grown out far enough from the follicle to be sampled and cut.

| Test | Approximate Window | Typical Use Case |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Hair Follicle | Up to ~90 days | General employment, court, or private requests |
| 6-Month Hair Test | Up to ~6 months | Extended history for custody or program compliance |
| 9-Month Hair Test | Up to ~9 months | Longer pattern review requested by a court or program |
| 12-Month Hair Test | Up to ~12 months | Full year segment-by-segment history |

This is why hair testing is often chosen when a requester cares about a pattern of use rather than a single incident. AMH Nationwide also offers 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month hair test protocols that section a longer hair sample into consecutive segments, each covering roughly a month of growth.

Who Orders This

## Who Orders Hair Follicle Drug Testing?

Employers use hair follicle drug testing for [pre-employment](https://amhnationwide.com/pre-employment-hair-testing/) and safety-sensitive roles that fall outside DOT-regulated testing rules, since it offers a longer look than a urine screen. Individuals also request it for family court, custody evaluations, [probation](https://amhnationwide.com/hair-follicle-drug-test-probation/) compliance, and private peace-of-mind testing, often at the direction of an attorney, caseworker, or the court itself.

**Employers:** pre-employment screening, post-incident review, and voluntary workplace policies outside DOT-regulated positions.

**Family courts and attorneys:** custody proceedings and parenting-time evaluations where a longer detection window is requested by the court.

**Probation and treatment programs:** compliance monitoring where the program specifies hair testing rather than urine.

**Individuals and families:** private testing to document concern or to satisfy a personal or family requirement, arranged confidentially through AMH Nationwide.

## Ready to schedule a hair follicle test?

Collection is available nationwide at collection sites in our national lab networks. Speak with a specialist or contact us now.

[Call (877) 731-6362](tel:+18777316362)[Contact Us](https://amhnationwide.com/contact-us/)

Pricing

## What Should I Expect for Pricing?

AMH Nationwide does not publish a fixed nationwide price for hair follicle drug testing because pricing depends on the panel size, the length of the detection window requested, and whether confirmation testing and Medical Review Officer review are bundled in. Call (877) 731-6362 for a current quote; volume pricing is available for employers ordering on an ongoing basis.

Quick Facts

### AMH Nationwide at a Glance

~90 DaysStandard Detection Window

20,000+Network Sites, 5 Major Lab Networks

6-12 MoExtended Panel Options

BBB A+Accredited

Every AMH Nationwide order includes laboratory confirmation testing on any non-negative screen and review by a certified Medical Review Officer before a result is released, which is standard practice for defensible drug testing programs.

Scheduling

## How Do I Schedule a Hair Follicle Test?

Scheduling a hair follicle test through AMH Nationwide follows the same five steps regardless of who is requesting the test.

1

### Call or contact us

Call AMH Nationwide or contact us to select the hair follicle test and confirm the requester, such as an employer, court, or private request.

2

### Get routed to a collection site

Receive a lab order for the nearest participating collection site in our national lab networks.

3

### Visit for collection

A small hair sample is cut close to the scalp in a discreet, private area of the collection site.

4

### Laboratory analysis

The sample is sent for laboratory analysis; any non-negative screen goes through confirmation testing before Medical Review Officer review.

5

### Results released

Results are released to the requester or to you directly, depending on how the order was placed and who is authorized to receive them.

Panels

## What Hair Test Panels Does AMH Nationwide Offer?

AMH Nationwide offers multiple hair follicle panel sizes, each screening for a different number of substance classes within the same approximate 90 day window. Panel size affects which substances are screened, not how far back the test can detect use. Common panels are listed but not limited to the list below.

**5-Panel:** screens for the five most commonly tested substance classes.

**7-Panel:** adds coverage for additional substance classes beyond the 5-panel baseline.

**9-Panel:** broader coverage often requested by employers with more comprehensive policies.

**10-Panel:** broader coverage often requested by employers with more comprehensive policies.

**13-Panel:** broader coverage often requested by employers with more comprehensive policies.

**17-Panel:** the widest coverage AMH Nationwide offers, used when a court, employer, or program wants the most comprehensive screen available.

Defensibility

## How Does AMH Nationwide Keep Results Defensible?

AMH Nationwide routes every hair follicle order through our national lab networks, each with several laboratory accreditations listed on their website and pairs collection with confirmation testing on any non-negative screen plus review by a certified Medical Review Officer. This chain of accredited collection, laboratory analysis, and clinical review supports a result an employer, court, or program can rely on.

Chain-of-custody documentation, tamper-evident packaging, and a documented collector process at each network collection site supports the integrity of the sample from collection through laboratory analysis, which matters most when a result may be reviewed by an employer, attorney, or court.

Related Pages

## What Other AMH Nationwide Resources Pair With This One?

Related AMH Tests

Hair Testing Resources & Guides

Service by State

Service by Audience

AMH

Reviewed & Maintained By

AMH Nationwide Customer Service

AMH Nationwide is BBB A+ accredited and routes every order through Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, or ExperTox, all of which use multiple lab certification agencies and standards such as SAMHSA-aligned laboratory protocols, the ANSI National Accreditation Board for forensic testing and calibration, the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Every non-negative screen is reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer as part of standard processing before a result is released, and chain-of-custody documentation is maintained on every collection. This page does not constitute medical or legal advice.

**Last updated:** July 2026

You May Also Need

[Nail Drug TestingNo head or body hair available? A 5-panel fingernail test covers a similar look-back window.Learn more →](https://amhnationwide.com/5-panel-fingernail-drug-test/)[ChildGuard: Environmental ExposureConcerned about a child or loved one? ChildGuard screens for exposure to drugs in their environment.Learn more →](https://amhnationwide.com/5-panel-hair-drug-test-environmental-exposure-childguard/)[Shorten the Detection WindowShortened options like 30 and 60 day hair panels are also available, useful when a urine test’s 1-3 day window is too short.Learn more →](https://amhnationwide.com/30-day-hair-drug-test/)[Hair ETG Alcohol TestAlso need alcohol testing? The hair ETG test screens for alcohol use, and can be added to the same collection.Learn more →](https://amhnationwide.com/etg-and-peth/)

Frequently Asked Questions

## Common Questions About Hair Follicle Drug Testing

AMH Nationwide is BBB A+ accredited, and general accreditation information is available publicly through the BBB; ask AMH Nationwide directly if a specific document is needed for an employer or program file.

Yes, employers can coordinate testing for a group of employees through AMH Nationwide, using the same nationwide national lab network for consistent collection across locations and roles.

No, a standard hair follicle test screens for drug metabolites, while a hair ETG test is a separate service that screens specifically for alcohol use; both can sometimes be ordered from the same collection visit.

No. DOT-regulated safety-sensitive testing under [49 CFR Part 40](https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40) currently requires the federally certified urine protocol, not hair. Hair testing is used for non-DOT employer, legal, and personal purposes.

No. Collection involves cutting a small bundle of hair close to the scalp with scissors from a less visible section of the head. It does not involve needles, and the cut section is not noticeable once hair is styled normally.

When scalp hair is too short or unavailable, collectors can use body hair, such as underarm, chest, or leg hair, though body hair grows differently and the detection window estimate can shift as a result.

Many family courts and probation programs accept lab-based hair follicle testing as one piece of evidence; acceptance and any specific protocol requirements vary by jurisdiction, so confirm the requirement with the court, your attorney, or your probation officer before scheduling.

Standard turnaround for hair follicle testing is typically a few business days once the sample reaches the laboratory; confirmation testing on a non-negative screen can add additional time.

Sources

• [SAMHSA – Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs](https://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/drug-testing)

• [U.S. DOT – 49 CFR Part 40 – Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs](https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40)

• [CDC – National Center for Health Statistics – Drug Use FastStats](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use.htm)

• [Quest Diagnostics – Employer Solutions, Hair Testing Methodology](https://www.questdiagnostics.com/)

• [LabCorp – Occupational Testing Services](https://www.labcorp.com/)

## Need to schedule hair follicle testing today?

Collection available nationwide at our national lab networks. Every result reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer. BBB A+ accredited.

[Call (877) 731-6362](tel:+18777316362)[Contact Us](https://amhnationwide.com/contact-us/)

---

**Need a drug, alcohol, HIV or STD test?**

AMH Nationwide is a national lab testing agency operating since 2004, with more than 20,000 collection sites across the United States. Hair, urine, fingernail and blood testing, panels from 5 through 19, for individuals and employers.

- Call: (877) 731-6377
- Find a collection site: https://amhnationwide.com/locations/

- Full page: https://amhnationwide.com/hair-follicle-drug-testing-ve-preview/