Hair follicle

AbbeyR, ADN, BSN · Dec 16, 2020

I’ve had two hair test and they’ve come back with no issues. Did you recently bleach your hair? That can come back “inconclusive”

HardtimesRN · Dec 16, 2020

I did get a perm about 3 days prior. I have had a previous hair test and it was OK. After more research I’m sure that is the issue. I was just wondering if this is bad in the eyes of BON.

AbbeyR, ADN, BSN · Dec 17, 2020

I’m not in a monitoring program or probation, I’m just submitting them to my BON to show I’m not unsafe or have drug hx. I’ve read if you have “inconclusive” urine, blood or hair with a program it may be an issue

willow14 · Dec 18, 2020

This happened to me during the final year of my monitoring program last year. My tests were all through First Lab, so I was able to check my results online after each test. When I saw the results for the hair follicle test as "flawed", I was terrified...I was absolutely clean & was very cautious about ingesting ANYTHING that would cause a false positive. I called First Lab to ask was "Flawed" meant and was told there was an issue with how my sample was collected. Apparently the lab tech didn't cut my hair close enough to my scalp, so the same didn't include enough hair 'close to the root', so the test was Flawed. I was encouraged to contact my monitor, and he was very understanding about it. He contacted First Lab to cancel that test from my record and ordered a new hair follicle test, which I was selected for a few days later. The second test was fine, no issues. If you're able to contact the lab, I'd start there and then f/u with your monitor. If you've already done that & you know it's already going to the BON, I'm not sure what will happen, but if I were you, I'd like to know WHY the test is flawed, as lab mistakes DO happen. Hopefully this helps some & good luck. Keep us posted.

Debs4 · Mar 26, 2021

Does alcohol or its metabolites show up in hair follicle testing? I will be entered into the PNAP monitoring system soon. They go through something called recoverytrek.com for hair, urine, and blood testing.

Knurse1967, RN · Mar 27, 2021

Yes I believe ETG stays on your hair follicle for 90 days; can also be detected in blood through Peth test for 4-5 weeks. Hope this helps?

ziko41 · Apr 8, 2021

On 12/15/2020 at 10:25 PM, HardtimesRN said:

I was selected for a hair follicle test. I just looked at the results. It says flawed test. Anyone know what that means in the eyes of the BON? I have no clue what that means period.

When I went to work after I stopped dyeing my hair, some of my colleagues made fun of my unprofessional hairstyles when they noticed that my hair was not dyed.