Overview Testing

The standard approach for hair follicle drug testing. It looks at the entire hair sample, typically 1.5 inches in length, which represents approximately 90 days of drug use (or less, depending on the length of the hair).

• Purpose: This test is useful for detecting recent drug use or patterns of drug consumption over a 3-month period.
• Process: A single hair sample is collected and tested for the presence of various drugs.
• Timeframe: It provides a general view of drug use over the last 90 days, with an average detection window of about 1 inch of hair per month.

Segmental Testing

Provides a more detailed analysis by dividing the hair sample into smaller segments. This technique allows the tester to identify drug use over specific periods of time, such as in 30-day intervals or even shorter timeframes.

• Purpose: Segmental testing is ideal when you need to track specific periods of drug use or monitor drug consumption at various points in time.
• Process: The hair sample is cut into smaller pieces, typically 1/2-inch segments. Each segment is analyzed separately, providing a more granular view of drug use over time.
• Timeframe: Each segment typically reflects a 30-day window, so the entire sample can give a detailed picture of drug use over 3 months or more, depending on the length of the hair.