Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a long-term archive of alcohol and other substances by incorporating biomarkers into the fibers of the developing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a 3-month detection window for drugs and alcohol. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample for evaluation and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. References to head hair specify scalp hair solely, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary four stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary swift evaluation for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumably positive samples during Screening must undergo secondary validation.
Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Preparation for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly reduced concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any screening positive is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumably positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination is based on the hair strand and not the scalp's hair follicle.
Advantages Over Traditional Urine Testing
Prolonged Detection Window Benefits
Minimizing Sample Adulteration Risks
Extensive Testing Accessibility Nationwide and Locally
Confidential and Efficient Testing Process
Cost-Efficient and Quick Testing Solutions
Rapid and Dependable Outcomes
Ensuring Compliance and Employer Assurance