Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair, hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can offer an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
Gathering a 1.5-inch length of roughly 200 hair strands (the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in the laboratory handling of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample in a laboratory’s system. This step verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for the presence of drugs. While Screening is economical for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positive samples in Screening need secondary confirmation.
When a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening the toughest methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screen occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called “hair follicle tests”, the examination focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Vandiver, AL, offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. This method boasts superior detection accuracy, providing reliable results that assess a person's substance use history comprehensively.
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle tests are more difficult to cheat and have a vast detection window. These tests provide a clearer, more accurate view of drug use, making them the preferred choice for rigorous screening purposes.
In Vandiver, AL, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing is unparalleled, reaching up to 90 days for spotting drug usage. This offers employers a broader perspective on an individual's substance use patterns.
This expanded detection period granted by hair testing grants employers insight into prolonged drug habits, beyond the limited timeframes of other tests, aiding in selecting trustworthy and responsible individuals.
Hair follicle drug tests in Vandiver, AL, present a nearly tamper-proof means of detecting substance use. Their nature minimizes the risk of adulteration, ensuring results that are both dependable and authentic.
The integrity of hair follicle testing is unmatched in its capability to provide results untainted by manipulation, cementing its status as a highly trustworthy choice for drug testing procedures.
Accredited Drug Testing in Vandiver, AL, offers convenient nationwide testing centers, making access to drug testing services quick and straightforward.
The ease of locating our testing centers ensures clients experience a seamless and efficient process, whether accessing services locally in Vandiver or across the nation.
The process of undertaking a hair follicle test in Vandiver, AL, is both simple and confidential. It addresses privacy concerns while remaining user-friendly.
From ordering your test to receiving results, each step is handled with discretion, providing exemplary levels of confidentiality and ease for all participants.
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Vandiver, AL, affirm our dedication to providing excellent value and peace of mind for companies.
These affordable hair follicle tests offer not just financial benefits, but also a rapid testing process that does not compromise on quality or accuracy, making them an optimal choice for businesses of all sizes.
In Vandiver, AL, hair follicle tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. They're renowned for their ability to precisely detect substance use, offering high levels of accuracy that ensures dependable outcomes for drug screening needs.
The efficiency of hair follicle testing is unmatched, thanks to its swift processing time and exact results. This method is favored for its precision, making it an excellent choice for those requiring confidence in the accuracy of their drug testing outcomes.
Employers in Vandiver, AL, benefit from hair follicle testing as it promotes compliance with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal ramifications and bolstering workplace safety.
Using hair follicle tests ensures peace of mind for employers, as it helps maintain a safe working environment while adhering to rigorous policy standards, thus safeguarding against potential legal disputes.
