Is a Hair Follicle Test the Best Choice?

Q: I am an employer of five construction workers. We are a small business, but I feel like I need to test my workers for drugs. I have heard that a hair follicle test is the best choice. Is this true and, if so, why?

Name Withheld

San Diego, CA

A: Depending on your exact concerns, a hair follicle drug test may be the best choice for your company. Urine drug screening is definitely the more traditional form of testing; however, the window of detection is fairly limited. It is designed to detect recent usage of a particular substance. Generally a urine screen can detect usage within the past couple days to weeks.

Hair follicle testing is a bit more expensive than urine screening, but the window of detection is much longer. It is designed to detect a history of ongoing drug use. For instance, if someone has a history of smoking marijuana, but quit using the month before their urine drug screen, they would more than likely pass the test. However, a hair test would almost certainly detect the drug use.

We can provide more information about this type of drug screening, as well as other solutions for detecting drug use. If you contact our office one of our representatives will be happy to discuss your exact concerns and help you decide which test is best for you.