Urinalysis vs. Hair Test

If you have to pass a test, knowing the kinds of testing you will face can make all the difference. While most tests check for similar substances, each has distinct strengths and weaknesses. The variation resides mainly in the material being tested.

What Does Urinalysis Test For?

A urinalysis test, or a pee test, is one of the most common forms in the United States. The process dates back 6,000 years and is administered to millions of people each year. The exam is available in three types, depending on the purpose.

Visual and microscope examinations accompany urinalysis tests for kidney disease. These methods allow laboratories to record cloudiness, crystals, bacteria, or blood cells in the urine. If any of these things are present, for example, the donor may be at risk of kidney disease.

The third form of urinalysis is the dipstick test. Testers dip a plastic chemical strip into the urine sample, which reacts and changes color depending on the presence of certain chemicals. It tests for drugs as well as acidity, proteins, glucose, and nitrites.

How Do Hair Tests Work?

The purpose of a hair follicle test is the same as a urinalysis, with the exception that it uses hair instead of urine. A tester will typically cut a small amount of hair with scissors to obtain a sample. The inspector needs approximately 100 strands, and dyes do not affect the process—if you are bald, they will take body hair.

Testers analyze the sample for the presence of drugs. Hair follicle tests check for a wide range of substances in the donor’s body, including an examination for amphetamines, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, and opioids.

A laboratory can determine that a result is negative within twenty-four hours. A positive test, however, requires seventy-two hours to confirm. It requires a second round of testing called chromatography or mass spectrometry.

A hair follicle test is more expensive than urinalysis with homemade kits retailing at $75. If a company wants a laboratory or hospital to conduct the analysis, the examination will cost between $100 and $125. A hair follicle test is considered more reliable than urinalysis.

Hair Follicle Test vs. Urinalysis: Which Is Harder to Pass?

Before we dive into the analysis, remember that the difficulty of a test also depends on the individual. Factors such as age, race, health, metabolism, dosage, and frequency of use, can dramatically change the goalposts. For instance, an obese, chain-smoker is going to have a more challenging time passing a test than a young, active participant.

Drugs are broken down and flushed quickly through the urine. Substances like methadone, ecstasy, codeine, heroin, alcohol, LSD, and THC typically only last for one to four days. Stronger drugs like cocaine or the heavy use of certain substances like marijuana or PCP can keep the drug’s metabolites in urine for a month or two.

Hair is different. It processes drugs slower, so testers can detect any substance use in the previous ninety days. Drugs still appear, even it is from the hair follicle test of an infrequent user. The tiny caveat to hair is that it grows so slowly that drugs do not show up for the first five to seven days after ingestion.

The longer detection window makes hair follicle tests harder to pass, but that is not the only reason. Hair-based testing is also significantly harder to cheat.

People taking urinalysis, however, can dilute their urine sample or submit a synthetic version. There is fake pee on the market, like ours, which comes with a 99.9 percent passing rate. It is hyper-realistic and includes the creatinine, proteins, and urea found in real urine.

Many hair drug-testing companies advertise their methods as more reliable and a better investment than urine-based tests. Some even claim they can detect six to ten times more users than competing methods. It’s true—sample tampering is almost impossible with hair tests unless you use Clear Choice shampoo.

We will explore some of the options below, but hair tests are not as easy as swapping in our fake pee products.

How to Pass a Hair Follicle Test

If your organization requires a test, the odds suggest it will be a urinalysis. The method is straightforward and significantly cheaper. If you do need to have some hair trimmed for a hair follicle test, though, we can help.

There are two methods people can try: the Macujo Method and the Jerry G Method. Both involve the application of a mixture of chemicals to remove existing metabolites from the hair. Before you go ahead with either of these methods, though, you must remain abstinent from drugs for at least ten to fourteen days before testing.

The Macujo Method requires Heinz vinegar, Aloe Toxin Rid shampoo, Tide detergent, and Clean and Clear pink shampoo. The Aloe Toxin Rid formula is essential; so, make sure you purchase the older version that contains propylene glycol. If you can’t find Clean and Clear pink, you can also use Neutrogena T/Sal.

Start with a combination of vinegar and Clean and Clear pink lathered into the hair. Rinse after thirty minutes, rewash with Aloe Toxin Rid, and then Tide. You will likely feel a mild burning sensation, but the process will not damage the hair.

The Jerry G Method requires bleach, hair dye, Toxin Wash shampoo, and baking soda. Place the dye and bleach on hair before washing it with Toxin Wash shampoo. You will notice a stronger burning sensation with the Macujo Method. On the day of testing, mix baking soda and water into the scalp and then clean the hair with Toxin Wash shampoo or Rescue Detox shampoo for hair drug test.

Both methods require repeated use. If you select the Macujo Method, perform it daily if there are at least five days, and twice a day if there are fewer days until the test. Jerry G requires two sessions with a ten-day gap between the two repeats.

Resources

History of Urine Tests https://www.livescience.com/35819-history-urine-tests.html

Tests for Kidney Health https://www.kidneyfund.org/prevention/tests-for-kidney-health/urine-test.html

Why Move from Urine Testing to Hair https://www.psychemedics.com/why-hair-over-urinalysis-testing/