Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft, hair offers a prolonged history of substance use. Hair collected near the scalp can reveal a detection scope of up to roughly 90 days. It is straightforward to gather, quite challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, optimal for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels over 10, a sample size of 150mg is advised. Measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent mass of body hair is acceptable. When mentioned, head hair pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (facial, armpit, etc.).
Process Overview
The four central phases in a lab's drug test result analysis comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the preliminary entrance of a sample into the lab system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any data entry left incomplete by the electronic chain of custody method.
Screening entails an initial, efficient assessment for controlled substances. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug presence for the majority of samples, court-admissible evidence demands that positive screens be validated. Thus, samples with a presumed positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample be presumably positive in the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the primary sample for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly labor-intensive.
Confirmation for any positive screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing as required before confirmation. The laboratory process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is meticulously checked under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle below the scalp.
In Moundville, AL, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests. The clear advantage lies in a superior detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection period and reduced likelihood of tampering, hair tests offer a more accurate representation of personal drug history compared to urine tests.
Hair follicle testing in Moundville, AL offers an extended detection window, identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This lengthy timeline allows employers an in-depth view into a person's substance past, assisting in making informed hiring or monitoring decisions more effectively than shorter-term tests.
By employing hair follicle tests in Moundville, AL, the risk of sample tampering is greatly minimized. This method ensures the reliability and authenticity of results, making it a preferable choice for organizations that prioritize trustworthy and indisputable drug testing outcomes.
Moundville, AL benefits from the convenience of our widespread testing locations. Access to quick, seamless, and hassle-free services is ensured with national reach and local centers, facilitating all testing needs wherever and whenever necessary.
In Moundville, AL, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to sample collection and receiving results, each step is designed to protect privacy and ensure a smooth experience, addressing any concerns with ease and efficiency.
Our testing services in Moundville, AL are marked by competitive pricing and rapid turnaround. This balance of cost-effectiveness and timeliness offers great value and comfort for businesses of any size, making reliable testing services accessible to all.
The use of hair follicle drug testing in Moundville, AL emphasizes its exceptional precision and speed. These tests are renowned for their accuracy in identifying substance usage, providing reliable and timely results that benefit employers and agencies in need of trustworthy drug screening methods.
Hair follicle testing in Moundville, AL provides employers with compliance and peace of mind. Utilizing this method helps enforce workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and fostering a safer work environment, thus ensuring stability and security across the company.
