How Much Is a Hair Follicle Drug Test? Understand Pricing and Benefits

How much is a hair follicle drug test and what affects the cost?

The cost of a hair follicle drug test varies based on the number of drugs tested, detection window, and lab network used. AMH Nationwide routes collections through five national lab networks: Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Omega Labs, United States Drug Testing Labs, and ExperTox. Each lab may have slightly different pricing.

The drug panel selected directly affects price. A basic panel testing for common drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP costs less than an expanded panel including synthetic or prescription drugs.

Detection window and urgency can also influence cost. Hair follicle tests detect drug use typically up to 90 days prior to collection, which is longer than urine tests but requires specialized lab analysis.

How much hair is needed for a hair follicle drug test?

A hair follicle drug test requires approximately 1.5 inches of hair length, cut close to the scalp, and about 100 strands or the diameter of a pencil. This amount allows labs to analyze drug metabolites deposited in the hair shaft over about a 90-day period.

If head hair is unavailable or insufficient, body hair may be collected but this can affect detection windows and test interpretation. AMH Nationwide guides collection sites on proper sampling.

Proper sample collection and handling are critical to ensure accurate results and avoid contamination.

Who orders hair follicle drug tests and why?

Employers, courts, probation officers, and individuals order hair follicle drug tests for their ability to detect long-term drug use. Employers use them for pre-employment screening and random testing, especially in safety-sensitive roles not regulated by DOT.

Courts and probation agencies order hair follicle tests to monitor compliance over months. Individuals may seek testing for personal knowledge or legal reasons.

AMH Nationwide provides lab orders and directs clients to local collection sites. There is no online ordering; all test requests require contacting AMH at (877) 731-6362.

What happens to hair samples during testing at the lab?

Once collected, hair samples are sent to one of AMH Nationwide’s five national lab partners for analysis. Labs use advanced immunoassay screening followed by confirmatory testing with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Every non-negative screen is reviewed by a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO) to interpret results, check for legitimate medical explanations, and ensure accuracy before reporting.

This rigorous process ensures reliable, defensible results for employers and legal entities.

How long can hair follicle drug tests detect drug use?

Hair follicle drug tests typically detect drug use within the previous 90 days because drugs incorporated into the hair shaft remain stable over time. The 1.5-inch hair sample represents approximately 3 months of growth.

This detection window is longer than urine or saliva tests, which detect recent use only within days.

However, hair testing cannot reliably detect drug use within the past week due to the time it takes for hair with drug metabolites to emerge above the scalp.

Can hair follicle drug tests be affected by external factors or passive exposure?

Hair follicle drug tests are highly accurate and resistant to tampering or passive exposure. External contamination is minimized by washing procedures in the lab before analysis.

While passive exposure to drugs like marijuana smoke is unlikely to cause a positive result, heavy environmental exposure could theoretically deposit trace amounts, but confirmatory testing and MRO review help distinguish this.

Hair treatments like bleaching or dyeing can affect results but do not invalidate testing.

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