Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as a potent technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This method captures a continuous record of alcohol and other drug use by preserving biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. Collected close to the scalp, hair samples offer a potential detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and easy to transport.
By cutting a sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 strands nearest to the scalp, you obtain 100mg of hair, the perfect quantity for both screening and confirmation procedures. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It's recommended to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. If scalp hair cannot be retrieved, an equivalent amount of body hair might be collected. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. In contrast, "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four critical phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the first handling of a sample within a laboratory system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not done by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Though Screening offers an economical approach to exclude drug use in most specimens, a positive screen must be validated for legal admissibility. Any specimens that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, substances are isolated from hair at markedly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of presumptively positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Warm Springs, AR, hair follicle testing stands out over traditional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests offer comprehensive insights into substance use, particularly benefiting zero-tolerance employers. The enriched detection capability and robustness to deception make it a preferred choice over conventional urine testing methods.
The extended detection window of up to 90 days with hair follicle testing in Warm Springs, AR, gives a detailed view of substance use. This long-term insight helps employers make informed decisions, assessing both current and past behavior, which is crucial for understanding an individual's long-term patterns of substance use.
Hair follicle tests in Warm Springs, AR, are known for their tamper-resistant methodology. The rigorous nature of collecting hair samples assures that results remain reliable and difficult to fake, offering unquestionable results that significantly minimize the risks associated with sample adulteration or substitution.
In Warm Springs, AR, our convenient nationwide testing centers ensure a seamless testing process, with local facilities that provide quick, efficient, and hassle-free services. This accessibility ensures that all testing needs are met with utmost ease and flexibility for everyone involved.
The process of using hair follicle testing in Warm Springs, AR, is simple and confidential. Ordering, testing, and obtaining results are designed to uphold privacy, ensuring comfort and security. This approach addresses privacy concerns and makes the testing experience straightforward and secure.
In Warm Springs, AR, hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing with fast turnaround times. Businesses can rely on its competitive cost structure, ensuring excellent value and swift results, which are crucial for time-sensitive and budget-conscious enterprises of any size.
The hair follicle drug test offers fast, accurate, and reliable results in Warm Springs, AR. Its precision in identifying substance use is unmatched, ensuring no detail is overlooked. Users of this test type can be confident in its high accuracy, making it invaluable for important decisions regarding substance use behavior.
Employers in Warm Springs, AR, gain peace of mind and compliance assurance through hair follicle testing. It supports drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks while promoting safety. Adopting such testing methods strengthens the company's commitment to a safe and compliant work environment.