Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline for detecting alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair strand. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can provide approximately a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is recommended. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary steps in the lab processing of drug test results are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This process includes verifying the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial quick check for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be admissible in court. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is retrieved from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other tests (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screen is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle underneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing offers better detection accuracy. Its reliability in drug use assessment makes it superior.
Extended Detection Window in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Hair follicle testing provides insight into up to 90 days of substance use. Employers gain a detailed view of the substance history of applicants or employees.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. The hair follicle test reduces chances of sample tampering. This method ensures trustworthy and undoubted outcomes.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Centers in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Our extensive network of testing centers facilitates easy accessibility to services without any hassle.
Simple, Confidential Process in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Experience a straightforward and secure process for ordering, taking tests, and receiving results, addressing privacy and ease concerns.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Competitive pricing and quick results deliver remarkable value and assurance for organizations of every scale.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. The precision of hair follicle testing provides swift and dependable outcomes. With high accuracy, these tests identify substance use consistently.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Forest Lakes Estates, AZ. Hair follicle testing lets companies ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal concerns and promoting safety.