Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Utilizing hair testing has emerged as a highly effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the expanding hair strand, hair offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug use. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage for a period of up to approximately three months. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When referring to head hair, we specify scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, and so on).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for determining a drug test result comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the initial step of processing a sample into a lab's system. It involves confirming the sample was sealed and transported correctly, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary scan for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in legal settings. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening must undergo subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptively positive result during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Any positive result from screening is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Corona de Tucson, AZ lies in its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests are prevalent, hair tests provide a much longer detection window and are less prone to manipulation, giving employers more confidence in employee screening.
Extended Detection Window in Corona de Tucson, AZ: Hair follicle testing allows for substance detection over a span of up to 90 days. This offers employers a detailed view of a person’s drug use history, thereby aiding in informed employment and supervisory decisions.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Corona de Tucson, AZ significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering. Hair follicle tests are difficult to adulterate, providing authoritative and reliable results that maintain the integrity of workplace drug screening programs.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Corona de Tucson, AZ: with a network of testing centers across the nation, Accredited Drug Testing offers seamless access to facilities, ensuring quick and efficient testing services wherever needed.
Simple, Confidential Process in Corona de Tucson, AZ: Ordering, taking, and receiving results is made straightforward and private, addressing concerns about confidentiality and convenience for users across the board.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Corona de Tucson, AZ highlight the competitive pricing and quick result times of our hair follicle drug testing services, offering great value for businesses of all sizes and instilling confidence in our testing solutions.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Corona de Tucson, AZ ensure employers receive trustworthy outcomes promptly. Hair follicle drug tests rank high for their precision in detecting various substances, offering peace of mind for companies. Their ability to yield results swiftly aids businesses in making informed decisions efficiently.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Corona de Tucson, AZ is achieved through the use of hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal challenges and enhancing the safety standards within the organization.
