Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive history of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. Hair samples taken near the scalp may reveal a detection timeline of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is fairly challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation. For additional EtG testing, add-ons, or testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. Use a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four vital phases in the lab handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s database. This stage includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped properly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any outstanding data entry not covered by an electronic custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples showing potential positivity in Screening need a secondary verification.
If a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate method to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In the comparison of hair follicle and urine testing in Scotland, CA, hair testing outshines with its superior detection capabilities and dependability.
Hair tests offer longer detection windows and are less prone to manipulation, providing an advantage over conventional urine examinations.
Employers gain a robust advantage with hair follicle testing in Scotland, CA, due to its ability to trace drug use for up to 90 days.
This prolonged detection capability is instrumental for offering insights into an individual's long-term substance consumption patterns.
In Scotland, CA, hair follicle tests pose formidable resistance against tampering, ensuring sample integrity for reliable outcomes.
With minimal risk of adulteration, this method ensures confidence in the results, shielding against any potential deceit by test subjects.
With extensive local and national testing facilities, accessing hair follicle tests in Scotland, CA is a hassle-free experience.
This widespread availability ensures quick and efficient testing processes, crucial for organizations seeking swift substance evaluations.
The hair follicle testing process in Scotland, CA is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, addressing privacy and usability concerns.
From ordering to results, the streamlined process ensures a user-friendly experience, encouraging broader acceptance and trust.
Offering attractive pricing models, hair follicle testing in Scotland, CA delivers exceptional value with rapid turnaround times.
This affordability, combined with speed, makes it an ideal choice for companies aiming to optimize budget without compromising on quality.
Speed and reliability are the benchmarks of hair follicle testing in Scotland, CA. This method offers unmatched precision, with results being available promptly, allowing swift decision-making for concerned parties.
Hair follicle tests excel in detecting even minimal substance use, making them a preferred choice for entities that demand high accuracy in their testing methods.
For Scotland, CA employers, hair follicle testing guarantees adherence to workplace drug policies, minimizing legal exposures.
This testing method not only enforces compliance but also reinforces a secure working environment, providing peace of mind on multiple fronts.
