Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now widely recognized as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. By collecting hair near the scalp, it can reveal up to a three-month period of substance and alcohol detection. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands, approximately equal to the width of a #2 pencil, closest to the scalp results in a 100mg sample, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, extra analysis, or panel tests exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is optimal. It is advisable to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types of hair (like facial and axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome includes four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The Accessioning stage starts with incorporating the sample into a lab’s system, confirming that it was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not covered by an electronic custody chain.
Screening provides a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. This stage is efficient for dismissing drug use in most samples, but any positive results require further verification to be legally valid. Samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.
Following a presumptive positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. This involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair testing the most challenging method to administer.
Confirmation of any presumptive positive result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Known as "hair follicle tests," these tests assess the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Sierra City, CA, hair follicle testing is an optimal choice over traditional urine tests due to superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests eliminate many issues associated with urine tests, such as short detection windows and the potential for tampering.
Hair tests provide a much broader scope of detection, ensuring that past substance use is identified accurately, establishing a comprehensive drug history that urine tests cannot match.
Extended Detection Window in Sierra City, CA, is one of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing. These tests detect drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This allows employers and other stakeholders to assess a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance history.
In contrast to other testing methods, hair follicle tests offer insights into long-term use, aiding employers in making informed hiring or monitoring decisions based on extensive substance interaction data.
In Sierra City, CA, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. Compared to other methods, especially urine tests, hair testing makes it significantly harder for individuals to alter their results.
The reliability of hair testing stems from its collection process and the biological nature of hair, ensuring that results remain unquestionable and trustworthy.
With convenient nationwide testing locations, including those in Sierra City, CA, getting drug tests done is a seamless process. Accredited Drug Testing provides widespread access, making it easy for individuals to undergo testing without unnecessary hassle.
Local and national facilities offer flexibility and accessibility, ensuring testing services are readily available without significant travel or scheduling conflicts.
The simple and confidential process in Sierra City, CA, ensures that ordering and taking hair follicle tests is hassle-free. This process ensures privacy for individuals, addressing concerns about confidentiality and the ease of use of the service.
From initial contact to receiving results, the procedure is designed to make the testing straightforward and secure, alleviating any potential stress associated with substance testing.
Sierra City, CA clients benefit from affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive prices, ensuring excellent value for both small and large companies seeking reliable drug testing services.
A quick turnaround of results reassures companies of the rapid implementation of necessary HR measures without interrupting organizational workflows significantly.
Hair follicle drug tests in Sierra City, CA deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision and speed of these tests ensure that detecting substance use is thoroughly efficient. When time is of the essence, and quality is paramount, hair testing provides high levels of accuracy, effectively identifying drug usage.
The swift processing associated with hair follicle tests means results are delivered promptly without compromising accuracy. This high efficiency ensures stakeholders receive the most accurate substance use data quickly.
Hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind for employers in Sierra City, CA. By adopting this method, companies can ensure adherence to workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal exposures and enhancing safety.
Employees and organizations both benefit, as clear policies and reliable tests promote a safer and more secure workplace environment where expectations are transparent and accountability is high.
