Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Regarded as a formidable technique, hair testing is utilized to uncover drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of substance use by preserving biomarkers within its fibers. When hair samples are collected from near the scalp, they can indicate drug and alcohol use for a period extending up to approximately three months. The process of acquiring a hair sample is straightforward, tampering is relatively challenging, and transportation is convenient.
An optimal sample for screening consists of a 1.5-inch section containing around 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), close to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is preferable. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, similar amounts of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair pertain specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedural steps in processing a laboratory drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample enters into the laboratory’s system and undergoes initial processing. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial rapid examination for drugs. This economically efficient step can eliminate drug usage in most samples; however, a positive result here necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Positive findings in Screening require a subsequent verification phase.
In cases of presumptive positive results from the Screening phase, further hair is taken from the original sample for preparation in Extraction. This stage extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair testing a notably challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Preceding confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed if necessary. From start to finish, the laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The test, often called a "hair follicle test", evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.
Hair follicle tests in Eclectic, AL, emphasize superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests. Notable benefits include a significantly extended drug detection period and reduced chances of sample manipulation.
The hair follicle tests conducted in Eclectic, AL, feature an extended detection window, capturing drug usage history up to 90 days prior. This timeframe allows employers to acquire a thorough understanding of a candidate's or employee's past substance intake, providing unmatched insight.
Hair follicle testing in Eclectic, AL, offers a tamper-resistant method, greatly minimizing the risk of sample tampering.
Eclectic, AL residents have the convenience of accessing hair follicle testing through nationwide and local centers. These testing centers provide easy, quick, and stress-free services:
In Eclectic, AL, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. From ordering to results, privacy and convenience are top priorities.
In Eclectic, AL, our pricing for hair follicle tests is affordable, with fast turnaround times, offering exceptional value.
In Eclectic, AL, hair follicle drug testing offers rapid and precise results. This method is known for its high accuracy in identifying the presence of drugs in an individual’s system.
For Eclectic, AL employers, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug regulations, providing peace of mind.
