Facts about Hair Follicle Drug Testing

"Samantha, was a healthy girl. However, she had a few flaws, who doesn't? But, Samantha's flaw was that she was into regular drug abuse. On the outside (according to all of her acquaintances), she seemed sober and a "good, clean person". However, in the privacy of her home and in the company of a chosen few friends, she used to regularly take drugs. The secret was "revealed to the world" when her company had its annual screening, a random drug testing at the workplace. Until the last year, the company used to conduct urinalysis, and Samantha used to get away with it. However, this year, thanks to the hair drug test that was conducted, she was exposed. Due to the report, her friends and family can get her the needed help and support, and enroll her in a drug rehab program."

Hair follicle drug testing is a method to screen the person for drugs. It is a very interesting process and here is my humble attempt to let you know more about it, with the help of the following interesting facts.

Facts to Know about Hair Follicle Drug Tests

Fact # 1
The first of the facts about hair follicle drug testing is, that this process stands on the principle that once a substance is processed by the human body, traces of that substance are deposited in the hair follicles, by the bloodstream.

Fact # 2
The second and super interesting of the facts is, that this drug test covers a time period of 90 days. Yes, it can vary at times, but on an average, it will reveal about a 90 day history. However, 90 days is the period for the hair on the head, it differs for hair on the other parts of the body.

Fact # 3
Another fact about this test is that the following substances can be traced:

• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Opiates
• Methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine

For all these drug classes, the mandatory check by the federal government, is a hair drug test. This is because, one can make sure that the substance was consumed, by the traces remaining in the hair follicle, even after the substance leaves the bloodstream.

Fact # 4
Another very important fact is that hair from any part of the body can be used for testing. However, as body hair are replaced annually, if the testing is done on body hair (rather than the hair on the head), only traces of substances that have left the bloodstream about a year ago, will still show!

Fact # 5
The last of the most interesting and important fact is that the tests are more effective than a urinalysis drug test. This is because, in urinalysis, the traces of the substance can show only if the substance is in the bloodstream. However, in the drug testing procedure, the follicles hold traces of the substances, even long after the substance has left the bloodstream!

There must have been a question in your mind about how exactly do the traces get deposited in the hair, right? Well, my dear, anything and everything that you eat, drink, breathe in, smoke, etc., enters your bloodstream and later goes on to the hair follicles, to "nourish the hair". That is why it is said that you must have substances that are good for the hair in their diet. So, this is how traces of substances are deposited in the hair follicles. This is where I sign off! Stay clean, so you can stay clear!