Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. This method captures a long-term record of these substances by locking biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and various drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, comprises 100mg of hair, which is the optimal portion for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to assess the sample’s weight using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair specifically concern scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other categories of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary phases in lab processing to determine a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial assimilation of a sample into the lab's system. Steps include confirming the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary swift assessment for abused drugs. Although cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates verification to be valid in legal contexts. Samples with a presumptive positive Screening require secondary confirmation.
For samples with presumptive positives in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are washed prior to confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", these analyses evaluate the hair strand and do not involve the scalp's hair follicle.
Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Simsbury Center, CT. With superior detection accuracy, hair tests outperform urine tests in identifying long-term substance use. This method provides reliable results due to the longer detection window, ensuring more comprehensive profiling of drug usage in the past.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing captures drug use history far beyond the limitations of other tests. In Simsbury Center, CT, employers gain insightful perspectives, covering up to 90 days of substance use. This long-term overview aids in making informed decisions regarding employment and ongoing monitoring.
Hair follicle tests, conducted in Simsbury Center, CT, offer a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the possibility of sample manipulation. By providing genuine and indisputable results, organizations can be confident in the reliability of the findings and the integrity of the testing process.
With an extensive network of testing locations across Simsbury Center, CT, and nationwide, accessing testing services is convenient for everyone. This network ensures prompt and efficient service for all testing needs, allowing easy procedures and reducing stress associated with drug testing logistics.
The hair follicle testing process in Simsbury Center, CT is both simple and confidential, making it easy to order, execute, and receive results discreetly. This ensures privacy and provides a stress-free experience for all parties involved, addressing any concerns of confidentiality smoothly.
Simsbury Center, CT offers hair follicle testing with competitive pricing that doesn't sacrifice quality or timeliness. Businesses of all sizes benefit from these cost-effective solutions, ensuring affordability while maintaining quick turnaround times, thus providing excellent value for drug testing services.
The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests in Simsbury Center, CT are unmatched. These tests deliver fast, accurate results, critically detecting substance use with high reliability. Companies and individuals benefit from the efficiency of hair testing, ensuring that the results are both swift and precise.
Hair follicle drug tests ensure compliance with workplace drug policies in Simsbury Center, CT. This not only reduces legal risks but also supports the promotion of a safe working environment. Offering peace of mind to employers, this method guarantees adherence to zero-tolerance policies effectively.
