Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly acknowledged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for these substances. Hair sampling is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.
For optimal screening and confirmation, a 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (about a #2 pencil's diameter) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair. For tests like EtG add-ons and panels above 10, 150mg of hair is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn’t available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean only scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for drug testing includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The Accessioning step involves the preliminary integration of a sample into the lab’s system, verifying sample integrity during sealing and shipment, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any further data entry absent from electronic chain of custody systems.
Screening is a preliminary, efficient method to check for drug abuse. Although cost-effective to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screening result requires confirmation to hold up legally. Samples with presumptively positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is prepared for Extraction from the existing specimen. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are used for confirming positive screening results. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: "Hair follicle tests" often describe tests that examine the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle
When comparing hair follicle testing with urine tests in Fargo, AR, the advantages are clear. Hair testing offers superior detection rates and reliability, making it a top choice for those looking for a thorough inspection.
Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing eliminates the potential for false negatives due to its ability to detect drug use over an extended period, giving an in-depth overview of substance use.
In Fargo, AR, hair follicle testing is preferred for its extended detection window. It can trace substance use back up to 90 days, providing employers with a broader understanding of an individual's drug use history.
This extended period is crucial for making informed hiring and monitoring decisions, ensuring that a complete picture of an employee or candidate's substance use is presented.
Hair follicle testing in Fargo, AR, significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. This method provides reliable, indisputable results due to the difficulty in altering or contaminating the hair sample.
The robust nature of hair samples means they remain untampered, bringing trust and confidence in the test outcomes, unlike methods that are easier to compromise.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing centers, including Fargo, AR. Our extensive network ensures that accessing testing services is quick, easy, and hassle-free.
With local and widespread locations, individuals and companies alike benefit from seamless testing processes that cater to various scheduling and logistical needs.
In Fargo, AR, we offer a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing. Our services address privacy concerns while and ensuring an easy-to-follow procedure for ordering, taking, and receiving test results.
This streamlined approach provides users with a stress-free experience, maintaining confidentiality throughout the entire testing procedure.
Our hair follicle testing services in Fargo, AR, are competitively priced, ensuring affordability for businesses of all sizes. We focus on fast turnaround times to provide excellent value to our clients.
By balancing cost-effectiveness with quick and reliable outcomes, we deliver peace of mind that meets both employer and personal requirements.
In Fargo, AR, hair follicle drug tests are lauded for their fast, precise, and reliable results. This testing method allows us to identify substance use efficiently and accurately, assuring high confidence levels in the outcomes.
Our advanced processing techniques ensure that we provide results in a timely manner, which is crucial for employers and individuals seeking quick and trustworthy evidence of substance history.
Employers in Fargo, AR, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and contributes to enhanced workplace safety.
Adopting hair follicle testing helps maintain a safe and productive work environment, mitigating the challenges associated with substance abuse in the workplace.
