Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is regarded as a significant method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within its strands, offering a persistent record of substance use, reaching back around three months if gathered close to the scalp. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and it is easy to mail.
A 1.5-inch collection of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's width) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation processes. When testing for EtG, additional assessments, or more than 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. Utilize a jeweler's scale to weigh the hair. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. Note: 'Head hair' specifies scalp hair exclusively, while 'body hair' encompasses other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Summary
The laboratory workup of a drug test involves four central steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning begins with the sample's entry into the lab's system. This phase ensures the sample is securely sealed and shifted, assigns a LAN (Lab Accessioning Number) randomly, and completes electronic chain of custody system data entry gaps.
Screening offers a swift preliminary assessment for substance misuse. It serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, but confirmed screening results are imperative for legal contexts. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening need additional confirmation.
Presumptive positives identified during Screening necessitate additional hair extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Drugs are isolated from hair in much lower concentrations here compared to other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluids), establishing hair drug testing as particularly complex.
Confirming any presumptive positive results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The whole lab operation, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and has accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of Hair Drug Testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand and not the scalp's underlying follicle.
In Taylor, AL, hair follicle testing presents significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Employers and professionals often prefer hair testing for its superior accuracy and reliability in detecting substance use. These tests offer a more comprehensive detection process, capturing a wider range of substance use data.
Hair follicle testing in Taylor, AL, excels with its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of drug use history. This allows employers to gain a detailed view of an employee or applicant's substance use patterns, providing a clearer picture of their long-term behavior.
In Taylor, AL, hair follicle tests greatly minimize the chances of tampering, ensuring credible results. The testing method is robust against sample adulteration, guaranteeing that the outcomes are reliable and verifiable, thus maintaining the integrity of the results.
With a network of testing centers nationwide, including local sites in Taylor, AL, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and hassle-free. This widespread availability ensures swift and easy service access.
The process for hair follicle testing in Taylor, AL, is straightforward and private. Ordering, conducting the test, and receiving results are all handled confidentially, addressing concerns about privacy and ensuring a user-friendly experience.
In Taylor, AL, hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Our services provide excellent value, making them accessible to companies of all sizes while guaranteeing quick and effective results.
Hair follicle tests in Taylor, AL, are renowned for their precision and swiftness. They deliver results that are both accurate and reliable, capable of detecting substance use effectively. This form of testing provides high accuracy, ensuring that results are trustworthy and credible.
For employers in Taylor, AL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety and reducing legal risks. This reliable testing method ensures peace of mind, confirming adherence to organizational and legal standards.
