Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, it can offer an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory evaluation of a drug test outcome entails four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning consists of the primary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any supplementary data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substance misuse. While it serves as a cost-efficient approach to eliminate substance use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be acceptable in a legal context. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair may be taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to conduct.
Any positive screening result undergoes Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleansed prior to confirmation if required. The entire laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When it comes to accuracy, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests in Mentasta Lake, AK. Hair tests provide a larger detection window and are harder to tamper with, making them a superior choice for those requiring reliable and consistent results. This added detection accuracy is why many organizations prefer hair testing.
The most significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Mentasta Lake, AK, is its extended detection period. Typically able to trace drug use for up to 90 days, it gives employers a comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, a feature that traditional urine tests cannot rival.
Hair follicle testing stands out in Mentasta Lake, AK, as a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing possibilities of sample substitution or adulteration. This makes it a trusted choice for obtaining accurate and genuine results, ensuring the reliability of drug testing outcomes.
The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including options in Mentasta Lake, AK, ensures that access to hair follicle drug testing is easy and hassle-free. This allows swift and reliable testing wherever it's needed, providing efficient and competent service to all clients.
Residents of Mentasta Lake, AK, experience a straightforward and confidential process when it comes to hair follicle testing. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step respects privacy concerns, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for all users.
In Mentasta Lake, AK, hair follicle drug tests are not only quick but also competitively priced. This offers great value coupled with fast turnaround times, accommodating the needs of companies of varying sizes, and reinforcing a commitment to customer satisfaction through cost-effective solutions.
Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and speed in Mentasta Lake, AK. These tests offer a high degree of accuracy in detecting substances over an extended period, providing rapid and reliable results. This makes them an invaluable tool for ensuring compliance and safety within organizations.
Employers in Mentasta Lake, AK, gain peace of mind and enhance safety and compliance with workplace policies through hair follicle testing. This method mitigates legal risks and supports a drug-free workspace, reinforcing trust and integrity within the workplace environment.
