Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The examination of hair has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair shaft’s fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers a detection window extending up to roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
A 1.5-inch segment containing around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample weight on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. By head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is first processed into the lab’s system. This phase ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening checks for drugs of abuse initially and swiftly. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples that indicate a presumptive positive in Screening mandate a secondary validation.
Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to conduct.
Positive Screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Washing of all presumptive positive samples occurs before confirmation if necessary. The overall laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditations.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually involves the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Vincent, AL, hair follicle testing proves superior in detecting drugs over traditional urine tests. The higher accuracy and reliability of hair testing make it a preferred choice for employers.
Unlike urine tests, hair follicle tests in Vincent deliver comprehensive results. They can uncover long-term substance use patterns, making them ideal for adherence to workplace standards.
Employers in Vincent, AL leverage the extended detection period of hair follicle tests. These tests span up to 90 days, offering a broader perspective on a candidate’s drug consumption.
With hair testing, companies benefit from a long-lasting detection window. This enables them to evaluate more than just immediate substance use, ensuring thorough background checks.
Vincent, AL sees a rise in hair follicle tests thanks to their resistance to tampering. This testing method minimizes risks of sample manipulation, ensuring genuine results.
The strength of hair testing lies in its integrity and authenticity. By reducing the chance of adulteration, businesses gain trust in employees' compliance with drug policies.
In Vincent, AL, the availability of our widespread testing centers makes access convenient. Nationwide locations ensure hassle-free arrangement of hair follicle tests.
With strategically located facilities, clients enjoy simplicity and speed in securing testing appointments, regardless of their location in Vincent.
The user-friendly process in Vincent, AL, makes hair follicle testing seamless. From order to result delivery, each step is designed for confidentiality and ease of access.
Ensuring privacy, our process addresses all concerns, allowing clients peace of mind. We prioritize simplicity, making testing straightforward and private.
Vincent, AL benefits from our affordable pricing on hair follicle tests. Competitive rates are paired with swift result turnover, offering value to businesses of varying sizes.
Quick turnaround times and reasonable costs position our services as cost-effective solutions for organizations seeking efficient drug testing methods in Vincent.
In Vincent, AL, hair follicle testing stands out by delivering swift and precise results. With its enhanced sensitivity, this method ensures high accuracy in recognizing recent substance intake, streamlining the verification process.
The power of hair follicle tests lies in their exactness. Compared to other methods, they provide dependable outcomes rapidly, helping organizations stay well-informed about employee substance use.
For companies in Vincent, AL, hair follicle testing brings compliance assurance. This helps maintain drug-free workplaces, decreasing legal liabilities and enhancing safety.
By implementing hair tests, employers gain peace of mind. Ensuring both adherence to policies and reduction of potential drug-related incidents makes this a strategic choice.
