Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests have gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair gives a prolonged history of substances by capturing biomarkers in the strands' fibers. When collected from near the scalp, hair can offer around a three-month detection period for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount for analysis. For EtG, additional testing, or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advocate using a jeweler’s scale for measurement. If scalp hair is missing, the same quantity of body hair is an alternative. Reference to head hair specifies scalp hair alone. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing in drug test results involves four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage of processing a sample into the laboratory’s system. Tasks include verifying that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and completing any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary quick check for substances. While cost-efficient for eliminating drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation for court validity. All samples preliminarily positive in Screening need secondary confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, hair releases drugs at a far lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation for any positive screenings is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples undergo washing as needed before confirmation. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though often dubbed "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Lakehead, CA, hair follicle testing has distinct advantages over urine testing.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Lakehead, CA, presents a clear advantage. These tests can identify drug use within an impressive timeframe of up to 90 days.
Hair follicle tests in Lakehead, CA, offer tamper-resistant solutions for drug testing.
Convenience is key with our testing centers available nationwide and in Lakehead, CA.
Our hair follicle testing process in Lakehead, CA, is simple and confidential.
We offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround for hair follicle testing in Lakehead, CA.
Our hair follicle drug testing in Lakehead, CA, is renowned for its precision and speed. The tests are designed to deliver highly accurate results, efficiently detecting substance use with great reliability.
Employers in Lakehead, CA, benefit significantly from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
