Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged overview of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers in the strands of the growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide approximately a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of around 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, making it an ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels surpassing 10, a recommended 150mg of the sample is necessary. It's advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. Reference to head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial processing of a sample within the laboratory system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and involves any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. Although screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to be admissible in court. Samples that are presumptive positive during the Screening stage require secondary confirmation.
When a sample is presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to conduct.
Confirmation is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS of any positive screening result. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. Each step from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the assessment itself evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
The advantages of hair follicle testing in Salinas, CA clearly outweigh those of traditional urine tests. Superior detection accuracy and enhanced reliability highlight its benefits.
Hair follicle testing in Salinas, CA offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, surpassing traditional methods. This prolonged window provides employers with comprehensive insights into an individual's substance history.
In Salinas, CA, hair follicle testing stands out as a tamper-resistant method. This testing significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration.
Convenience in testing is paramount in Salinas, CA, with accessible nationwide locations and local facilities. This network guarantees prompt and hassle-free access.
The hair follicle testing process in Salinas, CA is simple and confidential, addressing privacy and usability concerns.
Salinas, CA offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround for hair follicle testing. This ensures high value and rapid outcomes.
In Salinas, CA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and swiftness. These tests provide fast, accurate results, ensuring any substance use is detected reliably.
Employers in Salinas, CA can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. It ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, diminishing legal risks.
