Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged overview of alcohol and other drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers as they grow. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month timeline for alcohol and drug detection. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch lock consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the circumference of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will weigh 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both preliminary and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional screenings, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair alone. Body hair includes other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is initially logged into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary assessment for signs of drug use. While it's a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive result from Screening needs additional confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive samples obtained in Screening must undergo further verification.
Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is retrieved from the initial batch for the Extraction process. This phase separates drugs from the hair at much reduced concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid testing), which renders hair drug screening as one of the most challenging methods to execute.
Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmations as required. The comprehensive process from Accessioning through Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although colloquially termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.
In Willow, AR, hair follicle testing's strength lies in its impressive 90-day drug use detection window.
This extensive period offers employers a detailed look into an individual's substance history, proving invaluable in thorough employee evaluations.
Hair follicle tests greatly diminish tampering chances, enhancing result reliability.
In Willow, AR, these tests ensure dependable outcomes, providing reassurance against sample adulteration, a common issue in other testing methodologies.
Our Willow, AR processes for hair follicle testing are user-friendly and confidential.
Ordering, conducting, and receiving results is secure and straightforward, addressing privacy concerns with ease.
In Willow, AR, competitive pricing and rapid turnaround underscore our commitment to value.
Businesses benefit from affordable hair follicle tests, ensuring timely results without compromising budget.
The hair follicle drug test in Willow, AR, offers speed and accuracy, swiftly providing clear results with high precision.
Recognized for accurately identifying substance use, hair testing ensures dependable drug detection, setting a standard for reliability and efficacy in modern testing methods.
Hair follicle testing in Willow, AR supports workplace drug-free policies and compliance.
It enhances safety, minimizes legal risks, and ensures peace of mind for employers by accurately detecting drug use.
