Are you facing a hair follicle test soon? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! This type of drug test is known for its accuracy and ability to detect substance use over a long period. But, understanding what it entails and preparing effectively can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll break down what a hair follicle test is, why it’s used, and provide practical tips to help you pass it with flying colors. Whether it’s for a new job or other professional requirements, our straightforward, friendly advice will guide you through the steps needed to approach your test with confidence. Read on to learn how to tackle this challenge successfully!
What is a Hair Follicle Drug Test?
A hair follicle drug test is a method used to detect drugs and other substances in your body by analyzing a small sample of your hair. This type of testing is particularly valued for its ability to provide a longer detection window compared to other methods like urine or blood tests. Here’s a closer look at what it involves and how it works.
How Does It Work?
Understanding how a hair follicle drug test works is essential for anyone who might need to undergo this type of testing. The process is both detailed and meticulous, ensuring that the results are as accurate as possible. Here’s an in-depth look at the steps involved:
Collection:
The first step in a hair follicle drug test is the collection of the hair sample. Typically, a sample of 100 to 120 strands of hair is required, which is usually taken from the crown of the head. The hair should be cut as close to the scalp as possible to capture the most recent hair growth. This sample generally represents up to 90 days of drug use history, based on average hair growth rates.
Preparation:
Once the hair is collected, it is sent to a laboratory for testing. At the lab, the sample undergoes a rigorous cleansing process to remove any external contaminants that might affect the test results. This step is crucial as it ensures that the substances detected are from within the hair, not from external sources.
Analysis:
After cleaning, the hair is cut into small segments. The segments are then treated with chemicals that break down the hair and release any drugs present into a solution. This solution undergoes one or more highly sensitive chemical tests. The most common methods used are:
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) – This is a screening test that can quickly identify the presence of drugs and their metabolites in the hair.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) – If the ELISA test indicates the presence of drugs, GC-MS is used to confirm the findings. This method is incredibly accurate and can identify specific drugs and their quantities.
Interpretation:
The final step is the interpretation of the results. Positive results are typically confirmed through a secondary, more specific test to rule out any false positives. Negative results indicate that no drugs were found in the hair sample.
Substances That Can Be Screened
A hair follicle drug test can detect a variety of substances. Here is a list of common drugs that can be screened through this testing method:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine, including crack cocaine
- Opiates, such as heroin, codeine, and morphine
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Amphetamines, including methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy)
- Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax)
- Barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)
- Methadone
- Propoxyphene
- Buprenorphine
- Fentanyl
Cutoff Levels For Hair Follicle Drug Tests
Cutoff levels are the predetermined thresholds at which test results are considered positive for drug use. Here’s a detailed look at what these levels mean and how they are determined.
What are Cutoff Levels?
Cutoff levels are set to distinguish between background levels of a substance (which could be due to environmental exposure or incidental contact) and actual drug use. By setting a threshold, the test ensures that only meaningful, indicative results of drug use are reported as positive. These levels are established based on scientific research and consensus within the medical and scientific community, and are periodically reviewed to adjust for new data or testing technologies.
Establishing Cutoff Levels
The process of establishing cutoff levels involves several considerations:
- Analytical Sensitivity: The capability of the test to detect very small amounts of a drug or metabolite.
- Risk of False Positives: Ensuring that accidental contact with drugs doesn’t result in a positive result.
- Statistical Norms: Establishing what is typical in a population that consumes drugs versus those that do not.
- Clinical Relevance: The level at which drug use becomes significant from a medical or legal perspective.
Common Drugs and Their Cutoff Levels
Each drug has a specific cutoff level. These levels can vary slightly by laboratory and the international standards they follow. Below is a list of some commonly tested drugs in hair follicle drug tests and their typical cutoff levels:
- Marijuana (THC): 1 pg/mg – The sensitivity for THC is set relatively low due to the high binding affinity of THC metabolites to hair.
- Cocaine: 500 pg/mg – This level is set to ensure that only active use is detected, avoiding positives from external contamination (like handling banknotes dusted with cocaine).
- Opiates (Codeine, Morphine, 6-acetylmorphine): 200 pg/mg – For heroin-specific metabolite (6-acetylmorphine), the level is crucial to differentiate it from other opiate uses.
- Amphetamines (Methamphetamine, Ecstasy): 500 pg/mg – This ensures that the use is intentional, given the potency of the drug.
- PCP: 300 pg/mg – Phencyclidine is less commonly used, so the cutoff is set to a balance between sensitivity and specificity.
Why Cutoff Levels Matter
Cutoff levels are important for many reasons:
- Accuracy: They help to maintain the reliability of drug testing by reducing the chance of false positives and ensuring that only significant drug use is detected.
- Legal and Employment Decisions: Many employment and legal decisions are based on the outcomes of drug tests. Accurate and fair cutoff levels ensure that these decisions are based on solid evidence.
- Standardization: With standardized cutoff levels, results are consistent and comparable across different testing laboratories.
How Can You Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test?
Passing a hair follicle drug test legitimately hinges primarily on abstaining from drug use, as these tests are designed to detect drug metabolites embedded in the hair shaft over a considerable period (usually up to 90 days). However, there are several strategies that people might consider to help pass this test if they have previously engaged in drug abuse. Here’s an overview of these methods, keeping in mind the importance of ethical considerations and the potential legal implications of attempting to circumvent drug testing protocols.
- Stop Using Drugs
The most straightforward and fail-safe method to pass a hair drug test is to not use drugs. This might seem obvious, but it bears emphasizing because hair drug testing is particularly effective at detecting drug use over an extended period. Stopping drug use well ahead of the test (ideally more than 90 days before) is the best way to ensure a clean result.
- Wait It Out
Since hair grows at an average rate of approximately 0.5 inches per month, and drug use can be detected in hair samples grown up to 1.5 inches from the scalp, waiting long enough (around three months) for the contaminated hair to grow out and be cut off is another effective strategy. This method, known as the “wait it out” approach, can be particularly effective for a hair strand test, allowing your body to naturally expel the drug metabolites without the risk of detection.
- Hair Hygiene
Some people attempt to use special shampoos and treatments that claim to strip out drug metabolites from the hair. These products often contain harsh chemicals designed to open up the hair cuticle and cleanse the cortex where the metabolites are stored. While some anecdotal evidence suggests that certain products can reduce the concentration of drug residues in hair, their effectiveness is not guaranteed, and results can vary widely.
- Home Remedies
There are numerous home remedies purported to cleanse drugs from hair, ranging from vinegar washes and detergent shampoos to treatments involving baking soda or lemon juice. Like commercial detox shampoos, the effectiveness of these methods is dubious at best, and there is little scientific evidence to support their claims.
- A Clean Haircut
If it’s possible and plausible (e.g., matching usual personal style), getting a very short haircut might reduce the chances of older, contaminated hair being tested. However, this method is conspicuous and might not be acceptable in all testing scenarios, especially if an insufficient amount of hair is left for testing, which could lead to test invalidation or the requirement of using body hair.
- Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
While primarily preventive, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and exercising can boost your body’s metabolism. This, in turn, might help in reducing the detectable life span of drug metabolites in new hair growth, although this won’t affect the hair that has already grown.
What to Avoid Before Your Test
When preparing for a hair follicle drug test, it’s crucial to know not only what might help you pass but also what you should avoid to prevent false positives or increased levels of detectable drugs in your hair. Here are some key factors and substances to avoid in the lead-up to your test:
- Avoid Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
One common concern is the potential for secondhand smoke to affect drug test results. While the risk of a false positive from secondhand smoke is low, it’s better to avoid environments where drug use is occurring. This is especially true for marijuana smoke; if you’re in a room with heavy smoke, some of the THC could potentially settle on your hair.
- Steer Clear of Certain Medications and Poppy Seeds
Certain legal substances and medications can trigger positive results for drugs:
- Poppy Seeds: Consuming poppy seeds in foods like bagels and muffins can lead to false positives for opiates. Poppy seeds naturally contain trace amounts of opium derivatives.
- Prescription Medications: Some over-the-counter and prescribed medications can be mistaken for illicit drugs. For example, certain sleep aids and weight loss pills might test positive for amphetamines, while some cough syrups and pain relievers could test positive for opiates. Always have a list of medications you are taking ready to provide to the testing facility.
- Be Cautious With Hair Products
Some hair treatments and styling products contain hemp or other substances that might interfere with drug testing results. While the risk is minimal, it’s advisable to use simple, clear ingredient hair care products leading up to your test. Avoid treatments like hair color, perms, or relaxers close to your testing date, as these can potentially affect the structural integrity of your hair and complicate the testing process.
FAQs
Q1. How Long Does It Take Weed to Get Out of Your Hair?
Weed, or THC, can be detected in hair for up to 90 days after use. This is because hair grows at about half an inch per month, and a standard hair follicle test typically examines 1.5 inches of hair taken closest to the scalp. To ensure THC is out of your hair, it would be advisable to abstain from marijuana for at least three months before your test.
Q2. How Can You Use Hair From Your Brush?
Using hair from your brush for a drug test is not typically acceptable. Drug tests require a specific amount of hair (usually a pencil-thickness bunch), cut close to the scalp to provide a timeline of drug use. Hair from a brush can be of varying lengths and may not provide an accurate measure of recent drug consumption.
Q3. Can a Hair Follicle Test be Tricked?
Tricking a hair follicle test is highly challenging. While some methods claim to cleanse drugs from your hair, such as special shampoos or home remedies, none are reliably proven. The science behind hair testing is designed to detect drug metabolites embedded within the hair shaft, making external washes or treatments largely ineffective at completely clearing all traces.
Q4. What Shampoo Will Pass a Hair Follicle Test?
Some shampoos, like Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo and Zydot Ultra Clean, are marketed to help reduce drug metabolites in hair for tests. These products often involve multiple washes and are used as part of a larger cleansing regimen. However, their effectiveness is not guaranteed, and results can vary widely among individuals.
Q5. How Long to be Clean For a Hair Follicle Test?
For a hair follicle drug test, it’s advisable to be drug-free for at least 90 days. This period corresponds with the growth of 1.5 inches of hair, which is what will typically be tested. This timeline provides the best chance to have a clean hair sample, as hair retains a chemical record of your drug use.