Q: I was just told that my employer is requesting a hair follicle drug test. I’ve never had one of these before, please tell me what to expect.

Name Withheld

Atlanta, GA

A: Hair follicle testing is just an alternative to urine drug testing. It can offer an extended window of detection in comparison to the traditional urine screen. Many employers utilize the hair test to ensure that their employees do not have a past history of drug use.

When you have a hair follicle drug test, the process is pretty simple. All you have to do is go to the collection site that your employer has directed you to, and the staff will take care of the rest. The actual testing procedure involves removing 90-120 hairs from your head. This may sound like a lot, but there are thousands and thousands of hairs on your head. A trained collector can ensure that you do not experience any discomfort and that there aren’t any visible spots from the collection. Results can be complete in a matter of business days.