Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has been recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a lengthy record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (resembling the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the act of incorporating a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry absent in the electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as a preliminary check for the presence of drugs. Although it is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate confirmatory testing.
Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at comparatively low concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening among the most complex methodologies to execute.
Positive results from Screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing as required before confirmation. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not on the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Kiblah, AR surpasses urine testing by providing superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, which cover a shorter detection window, hair tests can identify drug use over a much longer period.
Providing a broad detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Kiblah, AR offers employers an all-encompassing perspective of an applicant or employee's substance use history, far surpassing the capabilities of other testing methods.
Reducing the potential for sample adulteration, hair follicle tests in Kiblah, AR stand out as a tamper-resistant testing method, ensuring the reliability and veracity of the results.
With a network of nationwide and local testing centers in Kiblah, AR, our services offer convenience and ease of access, ensuring the drug testing process is quick, effortless, and stress-free.
The drug testing process in Kiblah, AR is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering to conducting the test and retrieving results, each step is designed to safeguard privacy while ensuring ease of use.
Our services in Kiblah, AR boast competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, providing companies of all sizes with great value and a sense of ease in meeting their drug testing needs.
In Kiblah, AR, hair follicle drug tests deliver swift, precise, and reliable results, making them a preferred choice for detecting substance use. Their high accuracy ensures that results are dependable and trustworthy.
Hair follicle testing in Kiblah, AR assures compliance with workplace drug policies, reducing potential legal liabilities while promoting a safe work environment. Employers gain peace of mind knowing their testing is thorough and credible.
