Hair Follicle Testing (HFT)
Hair Follicle Testing provides a longer history of drug use than other drug testing methods, which can offer valuable information to employers.
Hair Follicle Drug Tests (HFT) involve removing a small sample of hair which is then tested in a laboratory. While samples are most commonly taken from the crown of the head, hair samples can also include facial hair, underarms, or arm/leg hair. For head hair, each half inch of hair provides approximately one month of drug use history.
The hair sample is removed by cutting the hair with scissors as close to the skin as possible — don’t worry, the collection process is painless — we don’t have to pull your hair out!
Hair follicle tests can detect substances like cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP), but the specific drugs evaluated in a sample may be determined by the employer ordering the test.