Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has become recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a detailed history of alcohol and drug exposure by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal substance use for up to three months. This method is easy to administer, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (roughly as thick as a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is perfect for screening and confirmation. For EtG and additional tests or those beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It’s best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair denotes other hair types (such as facial and axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory process of drug testing encompasses four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is integrated into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes data entry that is not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as a preliminary check for drug abuse, offering a cost-effective way to eliminate negative samples. However, a positive screen needs further Confirmation to be legally valid. Screened samples with a positive result necessitate a follow-up confirmation test.
For samples testing positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted and prepared for the Extraction phase. This part of the process pulls drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than other testing methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is notably intricate.
Any positive result during Screening undergoes Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All such samples are thoroughly washed before Confirmation if necessary. The entire testing procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, complies with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests," the assessment actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Glenview, CA surpasses traditional urine testing by offering improved detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection window and a lower chance of test tampering, hair testing is emerging as the superior option.
The extended detection period makes hair testing a preferred choice, capturing a broader substance use history than urine tests, which are limited to short-term detection.
Hair follicle testing in Glenview, CA extends the detection window for drug use, enabling scrutiny up to 90 days post-consumption. This broader detection window offers employers a detailed analysis of an individual’s substance history.
This enhanced detection period offers a comprehensive review of an applicant’s substance history, giving employers a better understanding of potential hires and current employees’ substance usage.
In Glenview, CA, hair follicle tests provide a stringent defense against sample adulteration, ensuring the results are trustworthy and secure. Minimal tampering risk makes this method a preferred choice for accurate results.
Hair tests reduce the risk of sample manipulation significantly compared to other methods, like urine tests, ensuring the results' reliability and authenticity is maintained.
With numerous nationwide and local testing centers, including those in Glenview, CA, convenience is guaranteed for hair follicle testing. Our locations ensure that testing is straightforward and hassle-free.
With ease of access a priority, these testing centers allow for quick and efficient drug testing, eliminating the burden of long travels or complicated appointment setups.
The process in Glenview, CA, for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, from start to finish. Ordering, testing, and receiving results are conducted with ease of use and privacy in mind.
Confidentiality is assured throughout the process, ensuring clients' privacy and maintaining a discreet testing environment from start to result delivery.
By offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround in Glenview, CA, hair follicle testing provides excellent value. Rapid results and cost-effective options benefit companies regardless of size.
Competitive pricing structures paired with fast outcomes enhance economic viability, ensuring that all enterprises find it feasible and worthwhile to utilize hair follicle testing.
In Glenview, CA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and precision. Accurate results ensure that substance use is reliably detected, offering unmatched assurance in testing.
The high accuracy of hair testing provides confidence to professionals and individuals alike, ensuring fast and reliable results you can trust. This makes it an invaluable tool for those needing prompt and precise drug test outcomes.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Glenview, CA gives employers peace of mind and compliance assurance in maintaining drug-free workplace policies. This method mitigates legal risks and boosts occupational safety.
These tests help companies adhere to zero-tolerance policies, enhancing the safety of the workplace environment and ensuring a secure, drug-free workplace for all employees.