Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a strong method in identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair acts as a record-keeper by locking biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When the hair sample is taken close to the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol use history from up to three months back. Collecting hair is straightforward, slightly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample, consisting of around 200 strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) from near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, and/or more than 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair can't be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair should be collected. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the step where a sample is first introduced to a lab’s system. It includes ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not captured electronically.
Screening is a preliminary test to quickly detect drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be confirmed for validation in legal scenarios. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening are subjected to additional confirmation.
When a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the sample for the Extraction process. During this stage, drugs are pulled from hair at a concentration lower than methods like urine or oral fluid testing, highlighting why hair screening is quite challenging.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation falls under the scrutiny of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests," these tests actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Whites Landing, OH, hair follicle testing is significantly superior to traditional urine tests due to its high accuracy and longer detection window. Unlike urine tests that can be easily tampered with and have a shorter detection period, hair testing provides a more reliable assessment, making it an ideal choice for employers and other institutions.
Employers in Whites Landing, OH benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing, which can reveal drug use history up to 90 days prior. This comprehensive view allows employers to make informed decisions regarding potential and current employees, ensuring a safer and more compliant business environment.
Hair follicle testing in Whites Landing, OH is largely tamper-resistant, greatly minimizing the chances of adulteration and yielding trustworthy results. This makes it difficult for individuals to alter or obscure their substance use history, ensuring organizations receive an accurate report.
The convenience of having drug testing available nationwide, including Whites Landing, OH, cannot be overstated. Our nationwide and local testing centers ensure that obtaining a hair follicle drug test is as straightforward as possible, making the process seamless and efficient for all involved.
In Whites Landing, OH, the process for hair testing is both simple and private. From ordering to receiving results, the steps are designed to be straightforward, ensuring confidentiality and ease, alleviating any potential apprehensions over privacy issues or procedural confusion.
Whites Landing, OH offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing, giving organizations substantial value. The efficiency and affordability ensure that companies of all sizes can benefit from the peace of mind that reliable and timely drug testing results provide.
The hair follicle drug tests in Whites Landing, OH, offer both swift and precise results. With their unparalleled accuracy, they accurately detect substance use, making them a preferred method by many. The results are delivered quickly, ensuring that there are no prolonged waiting times affecting critical decision-making processes.
In Whites Landing, OH, hair follicle drug tests provide employers with compliance and reassurance. By ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies, the risk of legal complications is minimized, fostering a safer working environment and protecting the organization's reputation.
