Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the hair shaft as it grows. When hair is clipped close to the scalp, it can offer a detection span of roughly three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.
A sample length of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's width) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond ten, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. We recommend using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair isn’t accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. When citing head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug testing lab process consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial handling of a sample into a lab's system. It entails ensuring the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, creating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any extra data entry omitted by an electronic custody chain system.
Screening is a preliminary, rapid analysis for drug abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use for the bulk of samples, a screen yielding a positive requires confirmation to be legally valid. Any sample that shows a presumptive positive in Screening necessitates further validation.
When a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction preparation. Here, drug concentration is extracted from hair at a much lower level than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing notably complex.
Any positive screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 requirements.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine tests in Arlington, CO, hair testing emerges as a superior method due to its higher accuracy and reliability. It offers an extended detection window and minimizes opportunities for tampering, outperforming urine analysis in key areas of drug testing.
In Arlington, CO, hair follicle testing provides a longer detection window, up to 90 days, thereby offering a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history. This extensive period allows employers and authorities to see beyond recent behavior, ensuring a thorough evaluation.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Arlington, CO is one of their strongest assets. These tests make sample adulteration nearly impossible, ensuring highly reliable and credible results, untainted by external manipulation or dishonesty.
With a network of nationwide testing centers, Accredited Drug Testing in Arlington, CO offers unmatched convenience. This ensures that businesses and individuals have quick, easy, and stress-free access to comprehensive testing services, no matter where they are located.
The process for hair follicle testing in Arlington, CO is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and result retrieval, every step prioritizes ease of use and privacy, alleviating any concerns related to the procedure.
Accredited Drug Testing in Arlington, CO offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. This combination provides excellent value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring efficient and cost-effective management of their drug testing requirements.
Hair follicle testing in Arlington, CO offers fast, accurate, and dependable results, making them an excellent choice for substance detection. The precision of these tests ensures almost immediate insights into substance use, providing employers with trustworthy information to make informed decisions.
Employers in Arlington, CO can achieve compliance and peace of mind by adopting hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, significantly reducing legal risks and promoting a safer, more secure workplace environment.
