Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a historical record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers as they grow. When collected near the head, hair offers nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Mention of head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types like facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The four primary steps for processing a drug test in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step of getting a sample into the lab’s system. This involves confirming the sample's seal and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Although Screening efficiently screens out drug use in most samples, a satisfactory screen result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples initially testing positive in Screening need additional confirmation.
For samples testing positive during Screening, additional hair is collected from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are withdrawn from hair at far lower concentrations than other methods like urine or oral fluid, presenting the challenge in hair drug testing.
Positive screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Samples initially testing positive undergo cleaning before Confirmation if required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strands, not the follicle itself beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Santa Maria, CA offers significant advantages over urine tests. More accurate in detecting drug use, hair testing has a
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