Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the growing strands, hair provides a comprehensive history of substance use. When gathered near the scalp, it offers about a 3-month timeframe for identifying alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient for sending.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will supply 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is suggested. Should scalp hair be lacking, a similar quantity of body hair can be used instead. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Conversely, body hair includes various kinds of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary stages in the laboratory handling of drug test samples: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial step where a sample is registered into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, allocates it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information not captured by electronic chain of custody systems.
Screening is the preliminary assessment to detect substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-effective for deducing drug absence in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation for legal validity. Samples appearing positive during Screening undergo further verification.
In cases where Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair from the sample is used for the Extraction stage. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at concentrations much lower than those in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging procedures.
Confirming any positive Screening is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All potential positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to standards set by the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although known as "hair follicle tests", these assessments analyze the hair strand, not the actual follicle beneath the scalp.
Comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Tomales, CA, highlights the former's superior accuracy and reliability. Hair testing outshines by capturing a broader spectrum of substance use over an extended period, offering a level of detection precision that's hard to rival.
Hair follicle testing in Tomales, CA, offers a prolonged detection window, proficiently identifying drug use up to 90 days back. This extensive span affords employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, far surpassing the limitations of urine testing.
Hair follicle testing in Tomales, CA, presents a tamper-resistant solution to drug screening. The method's inherent resistance to sample tampering ensures that results remain trustworthy and are not easily questioned, thereby ensuring authenticity.
Our convenient network of testing centers, including local facilities in Tomales, CA, ensures easy access to drug testing services. With nationwide availability, testing becomes a seamless, efficient process, fulfilling testing needs across the country.
Tomales, CA residents can expect a simple and confidential drug testing process. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, the procedure emphasizes privacy and ease of use, reassuring all clients with its straightforwardness.
Offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround in Tomales, CA, our drug testing services deliver significant value. With competitive rates and speedy results, companies of all sizes benefit from cost-effective and efficient testing solutions.
In Tomales, CA, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their high precision in detecting substance usage makes them the go-to option for swift and dependable outcomes. With efficiency at the forefront, individuals and businesses rely on these tests for quick answers.
For employers in Tomales, CA, hair follicle testing affords compliance and peace of mind. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, legal risks are minimized and workplace safety is enhanced, supporting a secure and drug-free environment.