Hair follicle tests

[Purplenurse123]

Hi everyone,

I'm curious what everyone's experience with hair follicle tests has been. My program is three years and so far I've only gotten monthly urines (which I've learned is a little unusual compared to tests a lot of other people in here seem to get), but my contract does specify they can also do hair tests. I'm 9 months in, and am sort of expecting one at the one year mark but not because anyone has told me I'll be getting one then. I'm not really worried about passing one, but not sure when/if I should be expecting one. Not looking forward to the cost 😫 Thanks for any insight!

[Nurse4RN]

Have you still never had a follicle test? If so, how much is it?

[Purplenurse123]

Still have not had one! I'm 19 months into my 3 year contract, so I just passed the halfway point. Urine test every month or two. My contract doesn't say that I WILL have a hair test, just that I could... so I guess we will see 🙂 I've also seen some posts saying their states don't even do hair tests for ETG, but I have no idea if that's the case for mine. 

[Mnltr2021]

In California in the intervention program every person gets a hair and blood test at the beginning of the program. Then randomly hair and blood through out the program. 

[Nurse4RN]

Yeah I'm in California. My contract states a biological fluid sample as needed. I didn't get a blood or hair sample when I started probation. It was urine. But in group they said there's a set amount they do for each person. X amount of urine, x amount of blood and x amount of hair. It gets confusing because we're not all in the same program. Some are in something called like Maximus or something. 

[rockinpoodle13, ASN, RN]

Nurse4RN said:

Yeah I'm in California. My contract states a biological fluid sample as needed. I didn't get a blood or hair sample when I started probation. It was urine. But in group they said there's a set amount they do for each person. X amount of urine, x amount of blood and x amount of hair. It gets confusing because we're not all in the same program. Some are in something called like Maximus or something. 

I was in probation for 2 years previously and never had a hair test. The requirements for probation and diversion are different on that level I think. 

[Nurse4RN]

You're right. I am barely putting it together that we differ in time, outpatient items, testing, etc. Oh I did see that they don't typically use hair for alcohol testing because it is not as accurate. But it does work for all drugs or at least it should. Thank you for your input and replies.

[dancinginthedark]

For our program, there is one in the beginning and one near the end.