Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the strands, hair offers a prolonged account of substance use. When gathered near the scalp, it can provide about a 3-month window for the detection of alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transport is easy.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands, akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil, near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, ideal for analysis. For EtG, extended panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equal quantity of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, it refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes other types such as facial and axillary.
Process Overview
The primary steps in laboratory processing of drug testing results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary phase where samples are integrated into the lab system. It involves ensuring proper sealing and shipment, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry that isn’t covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides an initial evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although it’s a cost-effective strategy to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs additional confirmation to be used in legal proceedings. Presumptive positive samples require further verification.
If a sample is presumptive positive during Screening, extra hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at much lower concentrations than other test methods like urine or oral fluid, which makes hair drug testing uniquely challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screen happens via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, potential positive samples are washed as needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
When comparing hair follicle and urine testing in Oakville, CT, hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. One of the key advantages of hair testing is its longer detection window, which can reveal substance use that may not be detected by urine tests. This ensures a more comprehensive view of an individual's history, especially valuable in professional and legal settings.
The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Oakville, CT, is a significant advantage. Able to identify drug use over a period of up to 90 days, it provides employers with a detailed overview of an applicant's or employee's substance usage history. This broader timeframe outperforms standard tests, which often detect more recent usage.
Hair follicle testing in Oakville, CT, vastly reduces the probability of tampering. The nature of hair samples makes them difficult to adulterate, ensuring the integrity of the results. With this method, employers can trust that the findings are accurate and representative of true substance history, significantly lowering the risk of false negatives.
In Oakville, CT, and across the nation, our comprehensive network of testing centers ensures convenient and hassle-free access to drug testing services. This widespread availability means individuals can swiftly locate a nearby center, ensuring the process of obtaining a test is quick and simple, without unnecessary delays.
The process of hair follicle testing in Oakville, CT, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is designed to ensure privacy and ease of use. This ensures individuals feel secure and confident about their data's confidentiality, making the entire process stress-free.
Our hair follicle testing services in Oakville, CT, are priced competitively, offering affordable options coupled with quick turnaround times. Despite the high accuracy and meticulousness hair testing provides, we ensure companies of all sizes receive excellent value, making us a cost-effective choice for substance testing needs.
In Oakville, CT, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and swiftness. Compared to other methods, it offers unparalleled accuracy in detecting substance use. The reliability of hair testing roots itself in its ability to analyze a longer history of usage, making it a preferred choice for ensuring accurate results.
Adopting hair follicle testing in Oakville, CT, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method decreases legal liabilities by ensuring more precise detection of drug use, thereby enhancing workplace safety and offering peace of mind to employers by reducing the potential for substance abuse incidents.
