Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying substance use involving drugs and alcohol. Hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can present a detection period extending to approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, tampering with it is quite challenging, and it can be easily transported.
A sample size of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the nearest point to the scalp, will weigh in at around 100mg, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or when testing surpasses 10 panels, a specimen size of 150mg is advised. The specimen should ideally be measured using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair can be utilized. The term "head hair" strictly means scalp hair. Conversely, "body hair" encompasses other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial intake of a sample into a laboratory’s records. This stage involves confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screening result requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Any samples suspected to be positive during Screening undergo a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and set up for Extraction. During this step, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a more complex procedure.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All suspected positive samples are washed before confirmation when necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing stands as a superior alternative to urine testing in Happy Valley, AK, bringing unmatched advantages in accuracy and dependability.
In Happy Valley, AK, hair follicle tests provide a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history due to its extended detection period.
Extensive Coverage of up to 90 days offers a clearer picture of drug use.
The hair follicle testing method in Happy Valley, AK, drastically minimizes the risk of sample tampering or adulteration.
Incontrovertible Results provide peace of mind thanks to this method's robust resistance to deceit.
Enjoy convenient testing locations in Happy Valley, AK, with our expansive network of centers nationwide.
Accessibility is key, offering simple, hassle-free services.
In Happy Valley, AK, the process of conducting hair follicle tests is simple and confidential, addressing any privacy concerns.
Streamlined for ease of use, obtaining, performing, and receiving results is straightforward.
Affordable rates and quick turnaround times distinguish our hair follicle testing services in Happy Valley, AK.
Competitive Pricing ensures great value across diverse testing needs.
In Happy Valley, AK, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in detecting substance use.
Accuracy is a hallmark of these tests, significantly surpassing traditional methods by identifying substances used over a longer timeframe.
Hair follicle tests in Happy Valley, AK, promote workplace safety and ensure adherence to drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and fostering compliance.
Employer Assurance through reliable test data.