Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a lasting record of alcohol and drug intake by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers up to a three-month detection timeline for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is easy, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) next to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair. "Body hair" denotes hair from other regions (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process of a drug test outcome involves four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step of incorporating a sample into the lab’s system. This phase verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocates a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid examination for abuse drugs. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive result demands verification to be legally acceptable. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
Should a sample test as presumptively positive during the Screening phase, further hair is collected from the initial specimen for Extraction preparation. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in far lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid testing, which makes hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is thoroughly reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand, not the scalp’s hair follicle
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Plains, FL
Superior Detection Accuracy
Extended Detection Window in Plains, FL
Comprehensive Substance History
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Plains, FL
Reliable and Unquestionable Results
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Plains, FL
Hassle-Free Access
Simple, Confidential Process in Plains, FL
Ease of Use
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Plains, FL
Excellent Value
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Plains, FL
High Accuracy
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Plains, FL
Enhancing Workplace Safety