Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Testing hair has become recognized as a potent means for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. The hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by ensnaring biomarkers within its growing strands. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal an approximate 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is missing, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, the reference is exclusively towards scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This phase ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers a preliminary rapid assessment for drug abuse presence. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to discard drug usage in most samples, any positive screen mandates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples appearing presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary validation.
Upon a presumptive positive finding in Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This stage withdraws drugs from the hair at distinctly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positivity are cleansed as required before confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the scalp-embedded hair follicle.
When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine tests in Hollis Crossroads, AL, the former demonstrates superior detection and reliability. With hair testing, the detection window extends far beyond that of urine tests, improving accuracy and dependability.
In Hollis Crossroads, AL, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection period of up to 90 days. This feature allows employers a thorough overview of an individual's drug use history, aiding in making informed employment decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Hollis Crossroads, AL is markedly tamper-resistant, drastically reducing the risk of sample alteration. This secure testing process ensures dependable and indisputable outcomes.
With convenient statewide and local testing locations in Hollis Crossroads, AL, our services allow for speedy, straightforward access to drug testing, making the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
The testing process in Hollis Crossroads, AL is easy and confidential. With simple ordering, testing, and result delivery, clients can be assured of privacy and convenience every step of the way.
In Hollis Crossroads, AL, our competitive pricing and quick turnaround provide excellent value for companies, ensuring affordable and reliable testing solutions that suit budgets of all sizes.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Hollis Crossroads, AL set them apart. Exhibiting high accuracy, they reliably detect substance use, swiftly delivering results. This efficiency makes them a preferred choice for many.
In Hollis Crossroads, AL, employing hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal liabilities and boosting workplace security. This compliance ensures peace of mind for employers.
