Hair testing advantages

Hair testing for drugs of abuse is the only drug testing method available that provides up to a 90-day drug use history. When compared with urine testing, hair testing provides nearly twice the number of positives due to its longer detection window. This makes hair testing from Quest an ideal solution for a number of drug testing programs.

Hair testing requires a small sample of hair that is collected under direct supervision without any invasion of privacy. Donors are typically sent to one of thousands of collection sites in our network equipped and trained for hair testing. During a hair collection, the collector cuts approximately 100-120 strands of hair from the crown of the donor’s head. The hair is cut as close to the scalp as possible, so only the strands of hair above the scalp are tested and not the actual hair follicle.

Our dependable turnaround times drive timely hiring decisions. Hair samples are sent by overnight delivery and are typically tested on the day they arrive at our laboratory. 

Drug abuse in the workplace puts employers at a risk for higher insurance costs, increased accidents and absenteeism, and lower productivity. Hair testing, like all drug testing methodologies, helps to mitigate these risks by screening out applicants and employees who use drugs. 

View our hair drug testing brochure.

Get more workforce drug testing resources from Quest Diagnostics.