Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair examinations are now recognized as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substances via capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair offers almost a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other substances. It's straightforward to collect, rather challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for tests. For EtG, add-ons, and/or screenings over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning concerns the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This encompasses ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it’s a cost-effective way to disregard drug use in most samples, a positive outcome must be validated for legal admissibility. Any samples that are presumed positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumed positive during Screening, more hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. At this phase, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than with other methods (like urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is the toughest methodology.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Ider, AL, offers superior accuracy and reliability. They effectively detect a range of substances over extended periods, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use.
Employers in Ider, AL, can trust hair follicle testing for an extended detection window up to 90 days. This method provides a thorough view of an individual's drug history, assisting in making well-informed hiring decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Ider, AL, is a tamper-resistant method, making it difficult to alter samples. This leads to trustworthy test results, which are critical for maintaining integrity in testing processes.
Accredited Drug Testing makes it convenient with nationwide centers, including those in Ider, AL, offering accessible and hassle-free testing services for quick and easy drug screening.
In Ider, AL, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring straightforward ordering, testing, and result retrieval while prioritizing privacy and ease of access.
At our Ider, AL location, we offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing, providing companies of all sizes with excellent value and rapid results.
In Ider, AL, hair follicle drug testing delivers fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. The test's precision in detecting substance use is unparalleled, assuring organizations of its dependability. By providing rapid and conclusive results, businesses can make informed decisions swiftly.
With hair follicle testing, employers in Ider, AL, can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind by reducing legal risks and fostering enhanced workplace safety.