Postal Hair Drug Test Kit – 90-Day Hair Strand Analysis

The Hair Drug Test offered by UK Drug Testing is a highly accurate and reliable method for detecting drug use over an extended period. Unlike urine and saliva tests, which typically detect recent drug use, hair drug testing provides a much longer detection window, covering drug consumption over the past 7 to 90 days, depending on the length of hair tested.

This hair drug test is particularly useful for:

Legal and court cases – Often used in child custody disputes, probation monitoring, and forensic investigations.
Rehabilitation programs – Assessing long-term abstinence in individuals recovering from substance use.
Personal testing – Those wanting to check their own or a family member’s historical drug use.

How does a hair drug test work?

The test analyses a small sample of hair, typically taken from the scalp, to detect the presence of drugs and their metabolites. Drugs enter the hair shaft through the bloodstream, and once embedded, they remain detectable for months.

Hair drug detection offers the unique advantage of long term detection of deposited residues in the sample strands used for analysis

Always follow the instructions provided with the test. Ideally collect the hair sample for drug testing from the centre of the head and select a hair sample from close to the scalp (growth end) minimum 1 cm.

Average hair growth is 1.25 cm / month. We recommend a 4 cm hair sample which will screen for drug deposits over approximately 3 month period

Advantages of hair drug testing

Long detection window – Can reveal drug use patterns over weeks or months.
Tamper-proof – Unlike urine or saliva samples, hair samples are difficult to adulterate or substitute.
Non-invasive collection – Although the process is simple and painless a fairly large amount of hair is required for the test and must be cut close to the root.

Cost-effective alternatives: Urine and saliva drug tests

While hair drug testing is highly effective for long-term detection, it is generally more expensive than other drug testing methods. For those needing a cost-effective alternative, urine drug tests and saliva drug tests provide reliable results at a fraction of the cost, and are ideal for workplace drug testing.

Urine Drug Testing:

Detection window: 1-7 days for most drugs.
Ideal for: Workplace testing, probation checks, and pre-employment screening.
Advantages: Quick results, widely accepted in drug testing policies

Saliva Drug Testing:

Detection window: 24-48 hours for most substances.
Ideal for: Roadside and workplace drug screening where recent drug use is the main concern.
Advantages: Easy, non-invasive, and difficult to cheat.

For many businesses, organisations, and individuals, a urine drug test or a saliva drug test provide a more affordable, practical solution for routine drug testing, particularly when immediate or recent drug use detection is needed.

Hair Drug Testing – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a hair drug test?

A hair drug test is a method of detecting drug use by analysing a small sample of hair. It provides a long-term history of drug use, typically covering a detection window of up to 90 days.

2. How does a hair drug test work?

When drugs are consumed, their metabolites enter the bloodstream and get incorporated into the hair follicles as the hair grows. Testing a hair sample allows laboratories to detect the presence of these drug metabolites, revealing past drug use.

3. How long do drugs stay in hair?

Drugs can be detected in hair for up to 90 days, depending on hair length. Since hair grows approximately 1 cm per month, a 3 cm sample from the scalp will provide a 3-month drug use history.

4. What drugs can a hair drug test detect?

A hair drug test can screen for a wide range of substances, including:

Cannabis (THC)
Cocaine
Opiates (Heroin, Morphine, Codeine)
Amphetamines & Methamphetamines
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Benzodiazepines
PCP
Synthetic drugs (depending on the testing lab)

5. Can hair drug testing be cheated or altered?

Hair drug testing is highly resistant to tampering. Washing, dyeing, or cutting hair does not remove drug metabolites from within the hair shaft. External contamination is also ruled out during laboratory analysis.

6. How much hair is needed for a drug test?

A standard test requires approximately 90-120 strands of hair, cut as close to the scalp as possible. If head hair is unavailable, body hair (e.g., from the chest or arms) may be used.

7. Can body hair be used instead of scalp hair?

Yes, body hair can be used if scalp hair is unavailable. However, body hair has a different growth rate, so the detection window may be longer than 90 days.

8. How accurate is hair drug testing?

Hair drug testing is one of the most accurate methods of drug detection. Laboratory testing ensures precise and reliable results, with minimal risk of false positives or negatives.

9. How soon after drug use can it be detected in hair?

It takes approximately 7-10 days for drug metabolites to become embedded in newly grown hair. Therefore, hair testing is not ideal for detecting very recent drug use.

10. Is hair drug testing more expensive than urine or saliva tests?

Yes, hair drug testing is typically more expensive than urine or saliva tests due to the laboratory analysis required. If cost is a concern, urine or saliva drug tests may be a more affordable alternative, especially for detecting recent drug use.

11. Who commonly uses hair drug testing?

Hair drug testing is commonly used by:

Legal professionals (family court, child custody cases)
Rehab and recovery programs
Law enforcement
Individuals who may want to check their own drug history

It is rarely used in workplace drug testing, as it does not show recent drug use but rather historical drug use.

12. Can second-hand drug exposure cause a positive result?

No, passive exposure (e.g., being in a room where drugs are used) will not cause a positive result. The test detects drug metabolites that enter the bloodstream, not external contamination.

13. Can I take a hair drug test at home?

Most hair drug tests require a professional sample collection and laboratory analysis. However, some test kits allow you to collect a sample at home and send it to a lab for testing.

14. How long do results take?

Laboratory hair drug test results typically take 3-7 working days, depending on the test provider.

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