Drug Testing: Urine vs. Hair Follicle
Due to the upcoming changes in mandatory drug testing, we decided to take a closer look into the differences between hair testing and urine testing.
Urine Testing
Testing urine for drug use is a highly effective and accurate method to test for drug use within the past 5 days, which also provides the quickest results – often in less than one day. Urine can be tested for a alcohol, prescription drugs, and a number of common illegal drugs including THC/marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy. Here is a comprehensive list of drugs which urine can be tested for:
- Amphetamines such as
- Methamphetmamines
- Benzedrine
- Dexedrine
- Desoxyn
- Barbituates such as
- Phenobarbital
- Butalbital
- Secobarbital and more
- Benzodiazepines such as
- Diazepam
- Lorazepam
- Clonazepam and more
- Buprenorphine such asCarisoprodal
- Subutex
- Soboxone
- Cocaine
- Cotinine
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
- Methadone
- Methadone Metabolite
- Opiates such as
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Oxycodone such asPhencyclidine (PCP)
- Oxycodone (Percocet)
- Oxymorphone (Opana)
- Oxycontin (Roxicodone)
- Propoxyphene
- Ecstasy
- Tapentadol
- Tramadol
- Marijuana (THC)
- Zolpidem
- Alcohol
- Alcohol Metabolite (EtG/Ethyl Glucuronide)
Urine tests can also be used to detect “flush-kits” in the event that the individual being tested may have made an attempt to beat the test.
Hair Follicle Testing
Hair samples can also be tested for drug use. A couple of strands delivers accurate results of drug use history over the course of the past 90 days in just a couple of business days (however, it does not detect drug use within the most recent 5 day window). Hair tests are not affected by “flush-kits” or other adulterants, can be used to detect the following substances.
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Opiates (Codeine, Morphine, Heroin)
- Expanded Opiates (Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone)
- Methamphetamine (Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Ecstasy)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
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