Can a hair test go back a year?

A standard hair test will only test the first 1½ inches of hair. The hair is cut as close as possible to the scalp. Donors with longer hair can be tested as far back as one year provided the hair is long enough. This is called segmented hair testing.

What shows up in hair follicle drug test?

The most common type of hair follicle drug test is the 5-panel drug test. This test works to detect cocaine, opiates, PCP, THC, and amphetamines.

How long does it take hair to detox?

The time you will detox is heavily dependent on how much damage and chemical processing your hair has been exposed to. I’ve seen people complete detoxing in a couple weeks, where as others have taken several months. A good rule of thumb is to expect the detoxing process to take 6 months.

How far back can the hair follicle test go to detect drug use?

How far back can the hair follicle test go to detect drug use? The hair follicle drug test, when using the standard 1.5 inches of hair, can detect previous drug use up to 3 months. If a longer piece of hair is selected, the drug test results can go back much further (in fact, years further) to detect drug use.

Why can’t you go back 90 days for drug test?

This is why drug test labs only claim to be able to go back 90 days. They know that their tests become increasingly unreliable over time. The way that drug testing companies limit their test to a 90-day window is by only testing 1.5 inches of your hair closest to the scalp. The remainder of the hair is discarded (for testing purposes).

How long does hair need to be cut to test for drugs?

Lab technicians cut the hair to test length. They immediately discard the unused portion. Since human hair grows about a half an inch per month, one and a half inches of hair is equal to a 90 day detection period. However, there’s no limit to the length of the hair that’s tested for drugs.

What is the difference between a urine drug test and hair drug test?

One of the main differences between a urine drug test and a hair drug test is their window of detection. While urine can be used to test for drug use within two to seven days, hair follicle testing can detect drug use further back — up to 90 days — so employers can determine if an applicant has repeatedly used drugs before.