Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol use. The hair strands, as they grow, capture biomarkers that reveal long-term drug and alcohol consumption. Sampling hair near the scalp allows for detection of substances over a span of up to 3 months. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenges tampering efforts, and ships without hassle.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, totaling about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), offers 100mg, a perfect amount for initial tests and verifications. For EtG and higher-panel tests above 10, 150mg is advised. It's prudent to measure the sample with a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be absent, a similar quantity of body hair can be used instead. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (like facial or axillary).
Process Overview
The key stages in a lab’s drug testing process include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is about integrating a sample into the lab's system. This includes checking if the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and fulfilling any missing data input not managed by an electronic custody system.
Screening acts as a preliminary evaluation for substance presence. While it's an economical choice for negating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires a follow-up for legal credibility. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening need an additional confirmation step.
If Screening indicates a sample is presumptively positive, further hair is retrieved from the original sample for Extraction. At this stage, hair undergoes drug extraction at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug tests notoriously challenging.
Verification of any positive screen involves methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation holds scrutiny under both CAP's Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the examination is of the hair strands rather than the follicles under the skin.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Descanso, CA: Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests with superior detection accuracy.
Employers gain confidence in their results due to the reliable and precise nature of hair testing methods, making it an indispensable tool in the hiring process.
Extended Detection Window in Descanso, CA: Hair follicle tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, an invaluable asset for employers.
This prolonged detection period offers a thorough examination of an individual’s drug history, ensuring peace of mind and better hiring decisions.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Descanso, CA: The inherent design of hair follicle tests reduces the risk of sample tampering.
This tamper-resistance results in highly reliable outcomes that employers and individuals trust for their authenticity and integrity.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Descanso, CA: Accredited Drug Testing offers a network of testing centers for ease of access.
Our local and nationwide reach guarantees that drug testing is straightforward, ensuring optimum convenience for all stakeholders involved.
Simple, Confidential Process in Descanso, CA: The procedures for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair drug tests are designed with privacy and simplicity in mind.
Concerns about privacy are addressed, ensuring participants experience a streamlined and private testing process from start to finish.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Descanso, CA: Competitive pricing underpins our testing services, alongside swift result processing.
Businesses benefit from our fair pricing model, coupled with impeccable turnaround times, providing exceptional value and assurance.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Descanso, CA: Hair follicle drug tests offer a high degree of precision and speed. This method excels in detecting substance use with outstanding accuracy.
Modern employers value precision and timeliness, both of which are hallmarks of hair testing. Experience clear results that influence informed decision-making without delay.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Descanso, CA: Employing hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing company compliance.
Employers protect themselves from legal issues while ensuring a safe work environment, thus promoting overall workplace security.
