Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The utilization of hair testing is increasingly regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline of up to roughly three months for alcohol and additional substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal specimen for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen’s weight. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a specimen within a laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the specimen, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening involves an expedient initial analysis for substance misuse. Although Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a positive result must be validated to be legally admissible. Any samples indicating presumptive positivity in Screening require subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of performing hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing prior to confirmation as warranted. Every aspect of the laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Why choose hair follicle testing over urine tests in Gateway, CO? Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Hair follicle testing in Gateway, CO offers an extended detection window, making it an invaluable tool for employers.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Gateway, CO ensures reliable results.
Convenience is key with our testing locations in Gateway, CO.
The hair follicle testing process in Gateway, CO is simple and confidential.
In Gateway, CO, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times.
This service delivers great value for companies of varying sizes.
In Gateway, CO, hair follicle testing is synonymous with fast and accurate outcomes. This method's high precision detects substance use efficiently, establishing it as a preferred choice for many agencies.
The reliability stems from analyzing the hair's stable composition over time, ensuring accuracy and quick processing.
This efficient system allows rapid feedback, reinforcing its role in maintaining safety and compliance across various domains.
Hair follicle testing assures compliance and peace of mind for employers in Gateway, CO.
