Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands encapsulate long-term histories of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. Collected from the scalp, hair offers up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-on tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We recommend using a jeweler's scale to verify specimen weight. If scalp hair is unavailable, the equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types, including facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
In laboratory processing of a drug test outcome, the four primary steps are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This step includes ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not accounted for by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a rapid preliminary check for drug use. While Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug usage in most samples, confirmatory testing is required for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive Screening samples need a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.
Confirmation for any positive screen result is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually analyzes the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
In Concord, AL, hair follicle testing offers clear benefits over traditional urine tests. Hair testing provides a higher detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection window, hair testing offers a comprehensive view, thus demonstrating superiority over shorter-span urine tests typically missing long-term usage tracking.
The superior capabilities of hair testing are preferred by employers, permitting an extensive view unseen in typical urine testing methods.
Hair follicle tests in Concord, AL, provide an extended detection window reaching up to 90 days, far surpassing that of other methods. This long time frame grants employers a well-rounded perspective on a subject’s history of substance usage.
Offering an incredible 90-day scope, hair testing empowers employers to make informed decisions based on a complete history of drug use, unlike other testing means confined to shorter periods.
Hair follicle testing in Concord, AL, is lauded for its tamper-resistant nature, largely eliminating risks of sample tampering. This procedure stands out, providing reliable and unquestionable results essential for accurate drug detection and trustworthy reports.
Ensuring the utmost sample security, hair testing offers unmatched integrity, making it nearly impossible to falsify results, an imperative feature for discerning employers and testing centers.
Accredited Drug Testing proudly provides nationwide and local testing centers in Concord, AL, ensuring seamless accessibility to our services. Outfitted to meet demands quickly and effectively, this expansive network ensures clients undergo hassle-free testing procedures.
Find convenience through our varied location options, offering flexibility and ease. Concord-based personnel and corporates are assured prompt and simple testing procedures.
In Concord, AL, we prioritize a simple, confidential testing process. From ordering to receiving results, every stage ensures privacy, reassuring all users. This method facilitates easy engagement, alleviating any potential concerns related to confidentiality or usability.
This seamless approach in Concord underscores the focus on confidentiality, creating confidence for those participating in drug assessments.
Our clients in Concord, AL enjoy the advantages of affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. This combination offers great value, making it accessible to companies of all sizes that seek reliable testing solutions.
Cost-effective and expedient, our pricing strategy ensures businesses can confidently implement necessary testing without stressing their budget, while receiving prompt results.
In Concord, AL, hair follicle testing is renowned for yielding swift, precise results. Compared to other methods, this test delivers high accuracy in detecting substance use. With its ability to provide rapid answers, it meets the urgent needs of employers.
Efficiency and reliability are at the heart of hair testing in Concord. Companies value this method for its speed and assurance in revealing accurate drug detection results, and candidates can trust the outcome.
Employers in Concord, AL find compliance assurance through hair follicle testing. By utilizing this method, companies can uphold drug-free policies, effectively reducing potential legal issues while enhancing workplace safety.
With its use, employers gain peace of mind knowing they are actively maintaining a safe environment. This practice not only helps in achieving regulatory compliance but also showcases a proactive stance in HR policies.
