Logan Reid
Drug testing is a common practice in many workplaces, including hospitals, to ensure employees' safety and compliance with regulations. While urine tests are more commonly used, hair drug tests are gaining popularity due to their longer detection window of up to 90 days, making them effective for pre-employment screening. Hair tests can detect repeated drug use and are challenging to cheat, providing accurate results. Hospitals may use hair testing to screen applicants for positions with access to controlled substances, deterring substance abuse and ensuring a healthy and safe work environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Detection window | 90 days |
| Testing process | 100-120 hairs cut from the crown of the head |
| Testing location | Lab or hospital setting |
| Testing kit | Available for purchase online |
| Supervised test | Yes |
| Washing, dyeing, or styling hair | Does not affect test accuracy |
| Detection accuracy | Very difficult to cheat |
| Sample size | 1.5 inches long and the thickness of a pencil |
| Sample collection | Directly from the person's head |
| Alternative sample | Body hair |
| Test cost | Covered by insurance carriers |
| Test use case | Pre-employment screening, random testing during employment |
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What You'll Learn
Hospitals may use hair tests to screen for cannabis use
Hospitals, like many other workplaces, may require drug tests as part of their pre-employment screening. While urine drug tests are more common, hair drug tests are becoming an increasingly popular method of screening for drug use. Hair tests can detect drug use over a longer period—up to 90 days prior to the test—whereas urine tests can only detect drug use from the preceding three days.
Hair drug tests are often conducted in a lab or hospital setting, or a test kit may be used and then mailed to a laboratory for analysis. During the test, the collector will cut between 100 and 120 hairs, each about 4 cm or 1.5 inches long, from the crown of the test subject's head. If the hair is too short or the person is bald, body hair can be used instead, provided it meets the weight requirements.
Hair tests are desirable to employers because they are difficult to cheat. Even rigorous shampoos and other cleaners cannot eliminate the metabolites that are embedded in the hair follicle. The long detection period of hair tests also makes them useful for pre-employment screening, as most applicants will not have flushed their system in the three months leading up to their application.
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Hair tests can detect drug use over the past 90 days
Hospitals may use hair drug tests for employment screening, although urine tests are more commonly used in workplaces. Hair drug tests can detect drug use over a longer period than urine tests, which only test for drug use in the three days preceding the test.
Hair drug tests can detect drug use over the past 90 days. This is because drugs enter the hair through the hair follicle, sweat glands, and oil glands on the scalp. Drugs can be detected in the hair five to ten days after use and remain in the hair for weeks, months, or even years. The detection window varies based on several factors, including the amount and frequency of drug use, the rate of drug metabolism, and the length of the hair sample.
Hair samples are typically taken from the scalp, with the collector cutting between 100 and 120 hairs from the crown of the head. If hair is unavailable on the scalp, samples can also be taken from the armpit, face, or other unshaven parts of the body. The standard sample length is 1.5 inches, although longer samples can be tested to detect drug use over a longer period.
Hair drug tests are often used to detect chronic drug use, understand long-term patterns of use, and confirm periods of abstinence. They can be used for employment testing, forensic and legal testing, and drug rehabilitation programs. While hair tests can detect drug use over a longer period than other tests, they cannot detect current intoxication.
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Hair tests are harder to cheat than urine tests
Hair tests are also harder to cheat because they are less invasive and do not require extensive apparatuses. Trained staff collect hair samples by cutting a small amount of hair, typically around 100 to 120 strands, from the top of the participant's head. This process is quick and painless, and dyes or styling products do not affect the accuracy of the test.
In contrast, urine tests require the participant to provide a urine specimen, which can be more difficult and time-consuming. Urine tests are also more susceptible to tampering, as it is easier for a person to alter their urine sample than their hair sample.
Additionally, hair tests can be used to detect a wide range of substances, including amphetamines, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, and opioids. While urine tests can also detect many of these drugs, they are less effective at detecting long-term or regular drug use.
The cost of the test is another factor to consider. Hair follicle tests are more expensive than urine tests, with homemade kits retailing at around $75. However, employers who require employees to take drug tests must cover all the costs, including the person's time.
Overall, hair tests are harder to cheat than urine tests due to their longer detection window, less invasive nature, wider range of detectable substances, and higher cost, which may serve as a deterrent for potential cheaters.
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Hospitals may test for nicotine use
In many U.S. states, employers are legally allowed to implement no-hire policies for nicotine users by using nicotine testing for employment. This is driven by a desire to keep health care costs down. Employers with tobacco-free hiring policies avoid paying higher health insurance premiums. According to a report by the American Lung Association, employees who smoke cost employers an average of $1,429 more in healthcare costs than nonsmokers.
However, nicotine screening policies have potential downsides for employers since they can miss out on highly qualified candidates who happen to use nicotine. Enforcing rules against nicotine usage after someone has already been hired is challenging. For example, neither Broadway Bank nor Baylor screens current employees for nicotine usage and has no plans to do so. Instead, Baylor employees who complete a smoking cessation course have their health care premium surcharge halted for that year.
If a company is considering establishing a nicotine-screening policy, it’s essential that potential hires be aware that companies will be testing for nicotine. If the screening for nicotine isn’t disclosed, potential employees can argue it’s a violation of their privacy. Under federal law, smoking is considered an activity, not a medical condition, so it’s not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Hair tests are often used for pre-screening applicants
Hair tests are also preferred because they are relatively non-invasive, and it is very difficult to cheat the test, making the results more accurate. For instance, rigorous shampoos and other cleaners cannot eliminate the metabolites that are embedded in the follicle. A hair collection is always directly observed, making it once again very difficult to cheat. Furthermore, a lab can retest the same sample multiple times, providing greater result accuracy.
The hair sample required for a hair drug test is typically taken from the hair's root, with the hair cut from the crown of the head. Around 100 milligrams of hair, or 100 to 120 strands at about 4 cm or 1.5 inches in length, are required for analysis. If the hair on the head is too short or the person is bald, body hair from the chest, arms, legs, or underarms can also be used, as long as it meets the weight requirements.
Hair drug tests are particularly useful for pre-screening applicants for positions where they would have access to controlled substances, such as in pharmacies. Testing positive for illicit substances during the pre-screening process will likely lead to disqualification from consideration for these positions.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals may hair drug test for employment, but it is not a very common practice. Most employers prefer urine drug tests.
Hair drug testing provides a longer detection window than urine drug tests. It can detect drug use in the past 90 days, whereas urine tests can only detect drug use in the past three days.
A hair sample of 100 milligrams or 100-120 strands at about 4 cm or 1.5" in length is typically collected from the crown of the head. The hair can be collected from different spots to avoid creating a bald spot. The hair sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
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