Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and other drug intakes, capturing biomarkers in the strands' fiber as they grow. Sampling hair close to the scalp can furnish up to roughly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to send.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp is needed to obtain 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is preferred. It is advisable to measure the sample weight using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, collect an equivalent amount of body hair. Mention of head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types such as facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes initially bringing a sample into a lab’s system. It covers verifying the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening denotes an initial brief examination for drugs of abuse. As a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed to be acceptable in court. Any samples suggesting a positive result in Screening require a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample suggest a positive result at the Screening stage, additional hair from the original specimen is sourced and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are removed from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Reece City, AL, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests with its superior accuracy and reliability. While traditional urine tests are commonly used, hair tests offer a more comprehensive detection window, identifying substance use over a longer period. The dependability and detailed insights provided by hair testing make it the preferable choice for many professionals in the field.
Hair follicle testing in Reece City, AL allows for an extended detection window of drug use, providing insight into substance history up to 90 days prior. This long detection period offers employers a full perspective on an applicant or employee's substance use, beyond the limited scope of other testing methods.
In Reece City, AL, the risk of tampering is significantly reduced with hair follicle tests. This method ensures the integrity of results, as it is difficult to adulterate the sample. This reliability provides undeniable and trustworthy results for employers and institutions needing accurate screening.
The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including local ones in Reece City, AL, ensures accessibility and ease. Our comprehensive network allows for prompt scheduling and testing, making it simple and hassle-free for individuals and companies to conduct necessary drug tests.
In Reece City, AL, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to protect privacy and ensure straightforward use. Participants can rely on a seamless and private procedure that respects their confidentiality.
Our competitive pricing structures in Reece City, AL, provide businesses with affordable, high-quality testing services with rapid turnaround times. The value offered through our services ensures excellent cost efficiency and peace of mind, accommodating the needs of companies of all sizes effectively.
Hair follicle drug testing in Reece City, AL, guarantees results that are fast, accurate, and reliable. This method is ideal for pinpointing substance use due to its high precision and quick analysis capabilities. Compared to other testing methods, it ensures rapid and dependable results, offering significant accuracy advantages in detecting drugs and alcohol.
Employers in Reece City, AL benefit from the compliance and peace of mind that hair follicle testing offers. It aligns with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal liabilities and enhancing safety. With tangible benefits in compliance, this testing method contributes to a secure and hazard-free work environment.
