Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Recognized as an effective method, hair testing is invaluable for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair maintains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collecting hair near the scalp enables up to roughly a 90-day window of detection for alcohol and various drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is hassle-free.
Collecting a 1.5-inch hair sample of around 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp achieves 100mg, which is optimum for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is preferred. It's advisable to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, this exclusively means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all alternative hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results is structured in four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the entrance of a sample into a laboratory’s operations. This ensures the sample is sealed, shipped correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any data entry lacking from an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening serves as an initial, swift assessment for illicit drugs. Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in a large portion of samples, but any positive result from the screen must be confirmed to hold in court. Presumptive positives from Screening necessitate further confirmation.
When Screening results suggest a positive outcome, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at lower levels than other tests (e.g., urine or saliva), positioning hair drug testing as the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any screening positivity is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to Confirmation, presumptive positive samples undergo washing as required. The entire lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny in accordance with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and certification to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Saranap, CA, hair follicle testing showcases its edge over traditional urine tests. Benefits include superior accuracy and reliability. Comparing the two, hair tests extend detection windows and ensure accurate results.
Hair follicle tests minimize false negatives and provide comprehensive insights into substance use, making them a preferred choice for those seeking reliable assessments.
In Saranap, CA, hair follicle testing excels with an extended detection window reaching up to 90 days. It offers employers a broad perspective on an individual's substance use history.
This prolonged detection period empowers organizations with detailed data, enabling safer and more informed hiring or retention decisions.
Hair follicle tests in Saranap, CA, implement a tamper-resistant testing method, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration.
Convenient nationwide testing locations in Saranap, CA, enhance accessibility for hair follicle testing.
In Saranap, CA, the testing process is simple and confidential.
Our services in Saranap, CA, are characterized by affordable pricing and fast turnaround.
The hair follicle testing process in Saranap, CA provides rapid, precise results. Fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes assure substance use is detected with high accuracy. Through evaluating samples promptly, these tests offer a trusted evaluation method, minimizing the wait time for results.
Professionals favor hair follicle drug testing due to its effectiveness in delivering precise outcomes promptly, contributing to informed decision-making.
For Saranap, CA employers, compliance and peace of mind are assured through hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies.