Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Seen as an influential method, hair testing effectively identifies drug and alcohol usage. It offers a prolonged history by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibrous structure of the growing hair strand. When sampling is done near the scalp, this technique can capture evidence of alcohol and drugs use up to roughly a 3-month period. The collection process for hair is straightforward, generally resistant to tampering, and simplifies the shipping process.
A 1.5-inch section comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It's ideal to use a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement of the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be provided, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. It is important to note that when mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all alternate forms of hair (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for drug testing results follows four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The sample first goes through Accessioning, the stage where a laboratory receives and processes the sample into their system, confirming proper sealing and shipment, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing extra data entry beyond an electronic chain of custody system.
Next, Screening offers an initial speedy evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it serves as an economical method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, any positive findings from Screening must be corroborated for court validity. Samples that test presumptively positive through Screening must undergo a second confirmation step.
In cases of a presumptive positive result during Screening, additional hair extracted from the specimen undergoes preparation for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are isolated from hair in significantly lower concentrations than other kinds of tests (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of conducting hair drug screening.
Confirmation for any positive result in Screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. Any positive samples are washed where necessary before confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specific standards and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although they are commonly called "hair follicle tests", the assessment is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pinewood, FL
Extended Detection Window in Pinewood, FL
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pinewood, FL
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Pinewood, FL
Simple, Confidential Process in Pinewood, FL
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pinewood, FL
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pinewood, FL
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pinewood, FL