Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has evolved into a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands of hair capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering an extended timeline of drug and alcohol history. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal usage over nearly three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is an optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. "Head hair" is exclusively used to refer to scalp hair. "Body hair" pertains to all other hair types (including facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
There are four principal steps in processing a drug test in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory's system. This step ensures that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is assigned, and any additional data not captured by electronic systems is inputted.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is economical for dismissing drug use on most samples, a positive result requires verification for legal acceptability. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation step.
For samples that test as presumptive positives during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much smaller concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair analysis the most intricate to conduct.
Verification of any positive screen is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning prior to confirmation as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the assessment focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
When comparing traditional urine tests and hair follicle testing in San Luis Obispo, CA, hair testing proves superior due to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle tests detect a longer history of substance use, offering better insight into an individual’s drug habits.
Employers and legal authorities prefer hair testing because it offers detailed insights, which are invaluable for making informed decisions, unlike the shorter-range analysis urine tests provide.
The extended detection range of hair follicle testing in San Luis Obispo, CA, makes it highly effective. This method can unveil drug use spanning up to 90 days, providing comprehensive insights into an individual’s drug history.
For employers, this extended window is crucial. It ensures a detailed view of a prospective or current employee's substance use, fostering a transparent and informed hiring process in the competitive job market of San Luis Obispo.
Hair follicle tests in San Luis Obispo, CA, offer a tamper-resistant testing method, minimizing the potential for sample adulteration, thus providing truthful and verifiable outcomes.
Given their design, these tests are nearly impossible to cheat, ensuring reliability. This guarantees a high degree of confidence in the drug testing process, a vital component of integrity in substance testing practices.
With easily accessible testing facilities nationwide and local options in San Luis Obispo, CA, our hair follicle testing services provide hassle-free access for individuals and organizations.
This convenience ensures that testing is straightforward, whether for employment, legal, or personal purposes, highlighting our commitment to providing accessible drug testing solutions across all locations, including San Luis Obispo.
In San Luis Obispo, CA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy from start to finish. It’s designed to be user-friendly, from ordering to receiving results.
The straightforward approach addresses privacy concerns and streamlines the procedure, making it an optimal choice for those seeking reliable and discreet drug testing solutions.
Affordable pricing and swift turnaround times make our hair follicle tests in San Luis Obispo, CA, a cost-effective choice for companies. Competitive rates ensure excellent value, giving organizations peace of mind without financial strain.
Our efficient processes guarantee rapid results delivery, reinforcing satisfaction through high service standards for businesses of all sizes in the area.
In San Luis Obispo, CA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their swift and precise results, providing a reliable measure of substance use. Their high accuracy ensures that employers can trust the outcomes, allowing for informed decisions in the workplace.
Such tests are efficient, delivering fast and verifiable results, thus reinforcing their status as a preferred drug testing choice in San Luis Obispo. The detailed results these tests offer are indispensable for maintaining safe and compliant work environments.
For San Luis Obispo employers, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety and reducing legal exposures. Such tests provide peace of mind, aligning with organizational standards for a secure environment.
Adopting hair follicle testing means meeting regulatory requirements, affirming commitment to a professional and substance-free workplace, and lessening risks associated with non-compliance.
