Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying substance use, including alcohol. Hair records a long-term history of substance presence by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. A sample collected near the scalp can reveal up to a three-month history of alcohol and drug exposure. Hair is straightforward to extract, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hairs (around the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. The specimen should preferably be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair imply scalp hair exclusively, while body hair includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The comprehensive laboratory analysis of a drug test includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning represents the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This phase involves ensuring the sample was adequately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and augmenting any data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial quick evaluation for drug presence. Though Screening is economical for ruling out drug use in most specimens, confirmed results are required for legal acceptability. Any samples showing a positive screen need further confirmation.
Upon a presumptive positive outcome in Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction phase. During this phase, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate to conduct.
Confirmation of any initially positive result occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized following the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and accredits compliance with ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite common references as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation actually examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing is increasingly the drug test of choice in Garland, AL, surpassing traditional urine tests in several ways. Its primary advantages lie in the enhanced detection accuracy and reliability it offers.
Employers in Garland, AL, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window. This method provides a comprehensive view of drug use history, spanning up to 90 days.
In Garland, AL, hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample tampering. This method ensures that the results are both reliable and unquestionable.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations, both nationwide and locally, in Garland, AL. We make the testing process easy and accessible.
In Garland, AL, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. We prioritize privacy and ease of use.
Our hair follicle testing services in Garland, AL, offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times.
In Garland, AL, hair follicle drug tests are known for their precision and speed. With unparalleled accuracy, these tests can verify substance use effectively.
Utilizing hair follicle testing helps Garland, AL, employers achieve compliance and peace of mind. This testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies.
