Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and other substances by preserving biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can represent an approximate 3-month analysis period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the ideal volume for testing. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg is preferred. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be utilized. Head hair explicitly refers to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the laboratory handling of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning concerns the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This incorporates confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for illegal substances. While Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug usage in the bulk of samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to hold up in a legal setting. Samples returning a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
Should a sample return a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at lower concentration levels than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology.
Verification of any positive Screening results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are rinsed before confirmation as required. Every phase from Accessioning to Confirmation is thoroughly scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis assesses the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp
In Hutchinson Island, FL, hair follicle testing offers a robust alternative to urine tests. Benefits include heightened detection accuracy and reliability.
Unlike urine tests, which may miss long-term usage, hair tests provide a comprehensive view, making them superior in assessing drug use histories.
With a detection window extending up to 90 days, hair follicle testing provides employers in Hutchinson Island, FL, with extensive insight.
This extended period allows for a thorough examination of an individual’s past substance usage, ensuring that employers have detailed information.
Hair follicle tests significantly reduce sample adulteration risks in Hutchinson Island, FL. Their robustness guarantees reliability.
By minimizing tampering chances, employers and institutions can trust the results, ensuring integrity in the testing process.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Hutchinson Island, FL, ensuring accessibility.
These centers provide a hassle-free testing process, allowing quick and easy access to necessary services.
In Hutchinson Island, FL, the hair drug testing process is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively.
Ordering and receiving results are straightforward, ensuring ease of use and confidentiality for all users.
Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times are hallmarks of our services in Hutchinson Island, FL.
This offers excellent value for businesses of all sizes, reinforcing the efficiency and practicality of hair follicle testing.
The efficiency and accuracy of hair follicle tests offer fast results. In Hutchinson Island, FL, these tests detect substance use with precision, ensuring reliable insights.
Not only are hair tests swifter, but their high accuracy in identifying drug and alcohol use is invaluable. Results are delivered in a timely manner, aiding decisions and ensuring safety.
Employers in Hutchinson Island, FL, gain peace of mind using hair follicle testing. It ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
Reducing legal risks and promoting safety, it is an essential component of maintaining a secure working environment.
