Hair follicle testing can be used for a variety of purposes. Though it might be most closely associated with drug testing, hair follicle testing can also be used to determine paternity, catch criminals and detect metals in your bloodstream. This testing method is useful and reliable, making it an often sought-after resource for answering tough questions.
Toxicity Testing
Hair follicle testing can be used to detect metals in your system. This is very important if you think you've been exposed to something toxic. A simple examination of your hair follicle can determine whether you have dangerous levels of mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic metals in your system.
DNA Testing
Hair follicle testing can also be used to determine familial relationships by examining DNA within hair. This can help determine the paternity of a child or whether someone is a sibling. The DNA component of hair follicle testing can also be used in forensics for determining the identity of a deceased person or who has committed a crime.
Drug Testing
Perhaps the most popular form of hair follicle testing used is drug testing. Many employers utilize this form of testing to ensure their employees aren't on drugs. These tests can also be conducted at home by worried parents.
How It Works
This form of testing is simple to carry out. It simply requires a hair sample. Several two-inch-long strands of hair are best to get an accurate result. A laboratory then examines the hair under a microscope and exposes it to various chemicals to reveal the presence of drugs or toxic metals. Because DNA is contained in the follicle, a sample could be matched to anyone's DNA who is in the lab's database.
Drugs That Can Be Detected
When it comes to drug testing, hair follicle testing can detect a great number of different types of drugs. A few examples include opiates, marijuana, ecstasy, PCP, methamphetamine and cocaine.
