Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand, hair presents an extended timeline of alcohol and other substance use. Hair taken near the scalp can offer a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additions, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four essential phases in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning comprises the initial entry of a sample into the laboratory’s database. This process includes confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening includes a preliminary rapid test for substances of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient technique to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive result in the screen needs further validation to be permissible in legal settings. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than in other procedures (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Verification of any positive screening result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle underneath the scalp
In Opelika, AL, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Hair follicle testing in Opelika, AL provides an extended detection window, capturing substance use history up to 90 days prior.
Hair follicle testing in Opelika, AL minimizes the potential for sample adulteration. This tamper-resistant method ensures the integrity of test results.
With convenient nationwide locations and local facilities in Opelika, AL, accessing hair follicle testing services is seamless and stress-free.
In Opelika, AL, our hair follicle testing is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. The entire process—from ordering tests to receiving results—is straightforward.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Opelika, AL deliver excellent value.
In Opelika, AL, hair follicle drug tests are known for their speed and precision. These tests offer a high degree of accuracy when identifying substance presence, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.
Employers in Opelika, AL can enjoy peace of mind by using hair follicle testing to adhere to drug-free workplace policies. This method decreases legal concerns and enhances safety.
