Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a potent method for discovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to approximately a 3-month detection window for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately hard to tamper with, and convenient to ship.
A 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result entails four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning handles the preliminary processing of a specimen into a laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in the majority of specimens, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at substantially lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is among the toughest methodologies to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening result is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary before confirmation. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand instead of the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in San Pasqual, CA. Traditional urine tests are commonplace, but hair follicle testing offers superior benefits. Its detection accuracy and reliability set it apart.
Extended Detection Window in San Pasqual, CA. Hair follicle testing excels in its ability to reveal drug use over prolonged periods, up to 90 days. This method provides employers a thorough overview of an individual's substance history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in San Pasqual, CA. The robust nature of hair follicle testing makes it resistant to tampering, ensuring trustworthy results.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in San Pasqual, CA. Our extensive network of testing centers guarantees easy and stress-free access to services nationwide.
Simple, Confidential Process in San Pasqual, CA. Experience a straightforward and confidential process for our testing services, addressing any privacy concerns efficiently.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in San Pasqual, CA. Offering competitive pricing and quick results, we provide incredible value for businesses seeking rapid turnaround times.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in San Pasqual, CA. Achieving precision and speed in drug testing is essential, and hair follicle tests provide just that, ensuring unmatched accuracy. These tests swiftly identify substances, offering consistently reliable outcomes.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in San Pasqual, CA. Utilizing hair follicle testing assures adherence to workplace drug-free regulations, minimizing legal hassles and promoting safety.
