How Long Do Hair Follicle Test Results Take for Accurate Drug Detection

How long do hair follicle test results take to process?

Hair follicle test results usually take between 3 to 5 business days to process after the hair sample arrives at the laboratory. This timeframe allows the lab to conduct a detailed analysis of the hair shaft to detect drug metabolites, which can provide a detection window of up to 90 days.

At AMH Nationwide, hair samples are routed through one of five national lab networks: Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, and ExperTox. This ensures consistent, high-quality testing standards.

What factors affect how long hair follicle drug test results take?

Several factors can influence the turnaround time for hair follicle drug test results:

The volume of samples the lab is processing at any given time can affect speed. High demand periods may extend processing times slightly.

The specific drug panel ordered affects processing complexity. Panels testing for more substances or including specialty analyses may take longer.

The condition and length of the hair sample can impact preparation and analysis time.

All non-negative hair follicle test results undergo review by a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO), which adds an additional verification step to ensure accuracy.

How does hair follicle testing turnaround compare to other drug tests?

Hair follicle drug tests generally take longer to yield results than urine or saliva tests due to the complex laboratory analysis required. While urine drug test results can be available within 24 to 48 hours, hair testing requires several days for sample preparation, testing, and review.

The following table compares average result times for common drug testing methods:

Hair follicle testing is preferred when a longer detection window is needed, despite the slightly longer result times.

How long do hair follicle drug test results reflect past drug use?

Hair follicle drug tests detect drug metabolites embedded in the hair shaft, providing a detection window of approximately 90 days. This makes hair testing a reliable method for assessing long-term drug use patterns rather than recent usage.

Hair grows roughly half an inch per month, and standard testing analyzes the most recent 1.5 inches of hair closest to the scalp. This length typically corresponds to a 90-day detection period.

Who typically orders hair follicle drug testing and why?

Employers, courts, probation agencies, and individuals order hair follicle drug testing when they require a longer detection window to assess drug use history. It is especially common in safety-sensitive industries, legal cases, and rehabilitation monitoring.

Because hair testing is non-invasive and difficult to adulterate, it provides reliable results for compliance and verification purposes.

Note that hair follicle testing is not used for DOT-regulated safety-sensitive testing, which requires federally certified urine testing protocols under 49 CFR Part 40.

How do I schedule a hair follicle drug test with AMH Nationwide?

AMH Nationwide does not offer online ordering for hair follicle drug tests. To schedule a test or receive a customized quote based on the drug panel and detection window needed, call (877) 731-6362.

Once you contact AMH, you will receive a lab order and directions to a nearby collection site. The sample is collected by trained personnel and sent to one of five national labs for analysis.

All results, including non-negative findings, are reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Common Questions