Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a chronicling agent for drug and alcohol usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sampled from near the scalp, hair can reveal a substance-use history of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. It’s straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section, approximately 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil), cut nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, deemed optimal for both screening and confirmation testing. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample on a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair pertains to all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within the lab system. This step involves validating the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a rapid initial evaluation for drugs of abuse. This is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, though a positive screen must be substantiated to be valid in court. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
For samples tentatively positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which renders hair drug screening the most intricate methodology.
Confirmation of any positive preliminary results is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples flagged as presumptive positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized both under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", it is the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp, that undergoes analysis.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Hair follicle testing offers superior detection compared to urine tests, showcasing greater accuracy and dependability. The test's ability to detect substances over an extended period makes it an excellent choice for employers aiming to maintain a drug-free workplace reliably.
Extended Detection Window in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: One of the key advantages of hair follicle drug testing is its ability to trace substance use up to 90 days back, providing an in-depth look into an individual's drug use history, which is invaluable for employers in assessing an employee or candidate's sobriety over time.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Hair follicle testing minimizes the chances of sample manipulation, ensuring the integrity of the results. This method's resistance to tampering guarantees reliability, delivering results that can be trusted without question.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: With our extensive network of testing centers, we ensure that drug testing services are readily accessible. This nationwide coverage offers convenience and simplicity in testing arrangements.
Simple, Confidential Process in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Our testing process is designed to be straightforward and private, addressing any privacy concerns while ensuring ease of testing and result acquisition, confirming our commitment to confidentiality and user-friendliness.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Our competitive pricing and prompt turnaround times provide exceptional value to businesses of various sizes, supporting them with efficient and economical drug testing solutions while ensuring peace of mind.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Hair follicle drug testing is an ideal choice for its remarkable accuracy and quick results. This method provides high precision in detecting substance use, making it a preferred testing option for its reliability and swift outcomes.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lake Belvedere Estates, FL: Embracing hair follicle testing helps employers adhere to drug-free policies, averting legal challenges and fostering a safer workplace environment. This testing method provides peace of mind by aligning with compliance standards effectively.
