Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores extended histories of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair's fibers. When taken from the scalp, hair offers up to a 90-day detection timeframe for substances. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch collection of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the prime sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's best to weigh the sample using a precision scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar volume of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the introductory step, where a sample is incorporated into a lab's system. It involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data not provided by a digital chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial, swift examination for substance abuse. While it's a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive result in Screening needs confirmation for court acceptance. Any samples flagged as potentially positive in Screening require further confirmation.
If a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, substances are pulled from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug analysis.
Positive Screening results are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all samples marked as potentially positive are cleansed as necessary. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation standards according to ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Glencoe, AR, hair follicle testing offers several advantages over urine testing.
Hair follicle tests in Glencoe, AR offer a longer detection window than other methods. Extending up to 90 days, they grant employers a broader view of a candidate's substance consumption patterns.
In Glencoe, AR, hair follicle tests are recognized for their tamper-resistance.
Our widespread network of testing centers ensures hassle-free access for Glencoe, AR residents.
The smooth and confidential process at our Glencoe, AR centers emphasizes privacy.
Glencoe, AR enjoys affordable hair follicle testing combined with quick response times.
The effectiveness of hair follicle drug tests in Glencoe, AR reflects their quick and dependable results. Speed isn't sacrificed for accuracy, as this testing method reliably uncovers substance use.
Employers in Glencoe, AR gain peace of mind through hair follicle drug tests.