Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.
A 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional components, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. When referring to head hair, it denotes only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test result encompasses four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the introductory processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample is properly sealed and forwarded, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any extra data input not managed by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening consists of an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening offers an economical solution to circumvent drug presence in most cases, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples deemed presumptive positive during Screening must undergo a subsequent validation.
For samples deemed presumptive positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening the most complex to execute.
Confirmation of any presumptive positive outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The process from Accessioning through Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cupertino, CA
Comparing hair testing to urine tests reveals significant advantages:
Extended Detection Window in Cupertino, CA
Employers in Cupertino benefit from the extensive detection window of hair testing:
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cupertino, CA
Hair follicle testing minimizes adulteration risks significantly:
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Cupertino, CA
Our nationwide centers simplify drug testing access:
Simple, Confidential Process in Cupertino, CA
The hair test process prioritizes simplicity and privacy:
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Cupertino, CA
Competitive pricing structures meet quick turnaround expectations:
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Cupertino, CA
The accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Cupertino are unmatched.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cupertino, CA
Employers in Cupertino secure compliance and reduce legal risks with hair testing:
