Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now acknowledged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This technique offers a lengthy record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, it offers a detection window of up to about three months for both alcohol and drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward; it's somewhat resistant to tampering and is convenient to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. In the event scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When we reference head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase of integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data input not handled by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient way to rule out drug use in most samples, any positive screen needs to be validated to be admissible in a court setting. Any samples that return a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.
Should a sample test presumptively positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is retrieved from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Positive screening results are confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptive positive are washed before confirmation as needed. Every step in the laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the test targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in West Contra Costa, CA demonstrates its advantages. Hair tests surpass traditional urine screenings by offering reliable detection and superior accuracy.
Extended Detection Window in West Contra Costa, CA provides a broader assessment period. Hair testing offers insight up to 90 days, offering a thorough view of drug use history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in West Contra Costa, CA showcases its practicality. Hair tests greatly reduce risks of sample tampering, yielding dependable, unquestionable results.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations including West Contra Costa, CA stress accessibility. Our widespread centers offer swift, efficient access to drug testing services.
Simple, Confidential Process in West Contra Costa, CA makes it user-friendly. The process from ordering to results delivery prioritizes simplicity and privacy.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in West Contra Costa, CA guarantee value. Competitive costs and rapid result times offer peace of mind and economic advantages for businesses of any size.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in West Contra Costa, CA highlight the precision of hair follicle drug tests. These tests provide quick and exact detection, ensuring substances are accurately identified within the user's system.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in West Contra Costa, CA revolve around adhering to zero-tolerance policies. Hair follicle testing supports regulatory compliance and promotes a safer work environment.
