Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained acceptance as an effective method for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. Hair strands offer a comprehensive history of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When obtained close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for both alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the circumference of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is an optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (like facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The key stages in laboratory processing of drug tests include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary incorporation of the sample into the lab system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, allocates a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry not available through an electronic custody chain system.
Screening acts as a preliminary check for substance abuse. While it’s an economically feasible method to dismiss most drug usages, a positive result requires confirmation for legal validation. Any sample with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitates further confirmation.
In cases where a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is retrieved from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing the most intricate method to conduct.
To confirm any positive screenings, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are employed. Samples with presumptive positives undergo washing as needed before confirmation. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Big Oak Flat, CA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in multiple ways. The main benefits include superior detection accuracy and a much longer detection window, offering more reliable insights into a person's drug use history.
Using hair follicle testing in Big Oak Flat, CA allows employers to see up to 90 days into an individual’s drug history. This extended detection window presents a comprehensive overview of an applicant or employee's substance use, bolstering workplace decision-making.
Hair follicle tests conducted in Big Oak Flat, CA drastically lower the possibility of sample tampering. This method ensures that results are reliable and indisputable, presenting an advantage over traditional drug testing methods.
Across Big Oak Flat, CA, the convenience of local and nationwide testing sites offered by our network promises seamless, hassle-free access to essential testing services.
In Big Oak Flat, CA, our process for ordering and conducting hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential. It addresses concerns over privacy and usability, fostering a smooth experience.
Our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Big Oak Flat, CA deliver exceptional value, ensuring peace of mind for businesses of every size.
In Big Oak Flat, CA, hair follicle drug tests are known for their unparalleled precision and speed in detecting substance use. These tests provide a high degree of accuracy, allowing for confident and secure conclusions about an individual's drug history.
For employers in Big Oak Flat, CA, using hair follicle testing guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizes legal risks, and promotes a safer work environment.
