Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. By gathering hair near the scalp, a potential detection window of up to three months for alcohol and various drugs is created. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp can yield 100mg, which is the optimal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or analyses requiring over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the sample weight. If head hair is inaccessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. The term "head hair" specifically refers to hair from the scalp, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, and so on).
Process Overview
Four primary phases are involved in the lab processing of a drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial set-up of a sample into a laboratory's database. This step verifies the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns it a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizes any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening acts as a preliminary drug abuse check. Despite being a budget-friendly strategy to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive results from Screening must be corroborated for courtroom validity. Samples that test positive in Screening undergo further confirmation.
Should a presumptive positive arise during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at a concentration notably lower than that used in other methods (e.g., urine tests or saliva testing), making hair drug analysis the most complex method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive finding occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Each presumptive positive sample is cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab sequence, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is evaluated under the College of American Pathologists Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests," the assessment examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Compared to conventional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Arcata stands out for its superior detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, which have a limited detection window, hair tests capture a broader history of substance use, resulting in enhanced accuracy.
Hair testing's reliability surpasses traditional methods, making it a preferred option for thorough examination. It reduces the risk of false negatives, ensuring complete and accurate detection of drug use.
Hair follicle testing in Arcata boasts an extended detection period, capturing drug use over up to 90 days. This comprehensive view provides employers with a detailed understanding of an individual’s substance history, beyond the scope of standard tests.
Employers gain significant insights into long-term drug habits, ensuring informed decisions. This extended window is invaluable for detecting substance patterns over months rather than days.
In Arcata, hair follicle testing provides a tamper-resistant solution, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. These tests are challenging to manipulate, offering a high level of reliability and unquestionable results, essential in maintaining testing integrity.
The process greatly reduces the chance of testing interference, ensuring droplet samples are legitimate. This tamper-resistant nature builds trust and delivers dependable results.
With convenient testing centers nationwide, including Arcata, CA, accessing hair follicle tests is easy. Our locations ensure testing is quick and hassle-free, with a wide network supporting diverse needs in multiple areas.
Whether in Arcata or across the country, our centers offer the accessibility needed for seamless testing experiences, reinforcing the ease and convenience of our services.
The process for hair follicle testing in Arcata is simple and confidential. This ensures ease of ordering, taking, and receiving results while guaranteeing privacy. Addressing concerns of privacy, the testing procedure prioritizes user confidentiality.
Effortless and discreet, the testing method caters to those demanding confidential handling, providing peace of mind while ensuring thoroughness in the testing process.
In Arcata, our hair follicle testing services are defined by competitive pricing and quick turnaround. Catering to companies of all sizes, our pricing structures provide significant value, ensuring businesses receive fast, reliable results.
The affordability of our services makes them accessible, offering comprehensive benefits without sacrificing speed or quality. This balance of cost-effectiveness and reliability delivers peace of mind.
In Arcata, CA, hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled accuracy and speed. The precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, ensuring reliable results. The meticulous testing process ensures that drug consumption is detected promptly, providing accurate insights.
Quick turnaround is a hallmark of hair follicle tests, making them a preferred choice for those needing timely results. Their efficiency in delivering fast, reliable outcomes is essential for time-sensitive situations.
Employers in Arcata can ensure compliance with drug-free policies using hair follicle tests. This method reduces legal risks and promotes workplace safety, providing peace of mind for those managing organizational policies.
By adhering to rigorous testing standards, employers can enhance workplace security and compliance, assuring stakeholders of a commitment to a safe environment. Hair testing is a reliable compliance tool in maintaining policy standards.
