Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair samples offer a detection window of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and facilitates easy shipping.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent in size to a #2 pencil) can yield 100mg of hair, which is an ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests above 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is suggested. Using a jeweler's scale for measurement is advisable. If scalp hair isn't available, body hair in a similar quantity can be used. When mentioning head hair, this specifically relates to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, including facial and axillary.
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning initiates the process by entering a sample into the laboratory's system. This step verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not addressed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial assessment for drug abuse presence. It is cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in most samples; however, a positive result in Screening requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples showing presumptive positivity require further confirmation.
For samples flagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. In this stage, drugs are extracted from the hair in much lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, which adds to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, if needed. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While colloquially known as "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Graham, AL: Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy, making it difficult to cheat. Unlike urine tests, hair testing's extended window of analysis ensures reliability, offering an accurate account of substance use.
Benefits of Hair vs. Urine Tests: Hair tests provide a better timeline of use, capturing weeks of data, unlike the quick snapshots urine tests offer, ensuring employers a comprehensive view.
Extended Detection Window in Graham, AL: Hair follicle tests reveal substance use history for up to 90 days. Employers gain insights into patterns not visible with shorter-term tests, providing a complete history of an individual's drug use.
With a detecting range reaching 90 days, hair testing in Graham, AL offers a detailed view of applicant usage trends, crucial for employers seeking thorough evaluations.
Graham, AL Hair Testing: Unmatched Security - Hair follicle assessments significantly lower adulteration risks, resulting in reliable and indisputable findings. This safeguard is paramount in maintaining integrity.
Scrutiny in Graham, AL focuses on the tamper-resistant nature of hair tests. The complex procedure ensures results remain uninfluenced, safeguarding against manipulation common in other testing methods.
Convenient Testing in Graham, AL: Our nationwide and local centers make accessing drug testing a hassle-free process. This widespread availability ensures that individuals in Graham, AL, experience easy and quick testing services.
With multiple testing locations across the country, including Graham, AL, potentiate swift and smooth access to drug testing facilities, eliminating logistical barriers.
Simple, Confidential Testing in Graham, AL: The seamless experience commences from order to final results. Confidentiality is assured, easing participant concerns while ensuring precise and discreet processes.
In Graham, AL, the testing process is straightforward and private, assuaging any worries about confidentiality while making it comfortable for individuals to engage in the procedure.
Affordable Pricing in Graham, AL: Our pricing structures offer competitive rates. Coupled with fast turnaround times, businesses from all sizes benefit, experiencing remarkable value and timely results.
Exemplary Value: Competitive rates alongside swift results provide companies in Graham, AL, with affordable solutions to essential drug testing needs, harmonizing quality and budget.
Fast and Accurate Hair Testing in Graham, AL offers unparalleled precision. Not only is the detection of substances almost error-proof, but the speed at which results are processed affirms a commitment to accuracy and reliability.
In Graham, AL, hair follicle tests provide rapid and trustworthy answers. Substance presence is determined with remarkable exactness, affirming the reliability of quick outcomes.
Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind in Graham, AL: Hair testing fortifies business policies, reducing legal risks. By maintaining drug-free environments, companies enhance safety and comply with industry standards.
Peace of Mind for Employers: Implementing hair drug testing guarantees adherence to workplace rules. Reduced legal threats and improved safety underscore the practice's importance in maintaining compliant operations.
