Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. It offers an extended record of drug and alcohol use by capturing biomarkers within the fiber of the hair as it grows. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to around three months for drugs and alcohol. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal specimen for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It is suggested to measure the specimen’s weight on a jeweler's scale. In instances where scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory drug test procedure entails four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the stage where a sample is initially processed into a laboratory's system. It encompasses confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, any positive screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptive positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for processing in the Extraction phase. Here, substancess are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), showcasing the complexity of hair drug testing.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are utilized for confirmation of any positive screenings. All samples showing presumptive positivity undergo washing as required prior to confirmation. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in McIntosh, AL surpasses urine testing due to its superior detection accuracy and enhanced reliability. Unlike urine tests, which may miss recent and past drug use, hair follicle screening offers a comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, making it an ideal choice for many.
Employers benefit from its long detection window and difficulty to adulterate. This effectively prevents false negatives and provides a more accurate reflection of a person’s drug use habits, ensuring a drug-free environment.
Employers in McIntosh, AL, gain significant insights with hair follicle drug testing due to its extended detection window. Unlike urine tests, which only capture a short timeframe, hair tests detect drug usage for up to 90 days, giving a longer-term view of an individual’s substance use.
This extended window helps employers make informed hiring and retention decisions, safeguarding workplace integrity and maintaining high safety standards. It provides a broader assessment of a candidate's substance habits and history.
The hair follicle drug testing method reduces the likelihood of tampering, an advantage for ensuring reliable results in McIntosh, AL. Unlike urine samples, which can be adulterated with various methods, hair testing offers a near-impenetrable defense against cheating.
By using an observed collection process that is difficult to manipulate, hair tests provide accurate results, ensuring the data's integrity. Employers can trust that the collected sample reflects the test subject’s real drug history safely and securely.
With convenient nationwide and local testing center access, Accredited Drug Testing provides efficient services for McIntosh, AL. Our comprehensive network guarantees that testing is accessible, reducing time and travel burdens on individuals requiring a drug test.
By offering a seamless process, whether locally or elsewhere across the country, we enable prompt and hassle-free testing services. This convenience supports rapid deployment and decision-making for businesses and individuals alike.
Accredited Drug Testing in McIntosh, AL, ensures a simple, confidential process for hair follicle testing. The straightforward ordering, sample collection, and result reporting keep clients at ease, respecting privacy at every step.
This user-friendly approach ensures sensitivity in handling personal information while facilitating quick, reliable results. The process is designed to maintain confidentiality without compromising on effectiveness, enhancing user confidence and satisfaction.
Our hair follicle testing services in McIntosh, AL, are both affordable and efficient. With competitive pricing structures, we ensure businesses of all sizes can access high-quality testing without financial strain, while receiving excellent value.
The swift turnaround times coupled with reasonable pricing grant employers timely information about potential drug use, accelerating employee assessments. Our competitive offerings make thorough, effective screening more accessible than ever.
In McIntosh, AL, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their swift and accurate results. The advanced testing method provides an unmatched level of precision, truly detecting substance use patterns. This ensures results are both dependable and fast, making them an invaluable tool for effective drug screening.
Hair testing stands out because it minimizes errors and provides clarity within a short time frame. Employers and individuals receive prompt knowledge of substance use, allowing for timely decisions that affect workplace safety and personal health assessments.
Employers in McIntosh, AL, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing by maintaining a compliant, drug-free workplace. Compliance reduces legal liabilities and ensures workplace safety, leading to fewer accidents and higher productivity.
Adopting this testing model means businesses align with regulatory standards effortlessly. The reliability of hair tests ensures that only suitably screened employees contribute to the company, upholding a safe and substantive workplace environment.
