Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective instrument for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the head, hair can present roughly a three-month detection span for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches containing approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the head provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be utilized. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab's system. This involves validating that the sample was properly sealed and mailed, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any other data input not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for prohibited substances. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive result must be substantiated for judicial acceptability. Any samples that indicate a positive outcome during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
If a sample hints at being positive in the Screening phase, extra hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction preparation. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair, presenting in much lower concentrations than in other methods (for instance, urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most demanding methodology.
Verification of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Verification is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often mentioned as "hair follicle tests", the method actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
When comparing hair follicle testing to urine testing in Port Saint John, FL, hair follicle tests emerge as the superior choice due to their remarkable detection accuracy and reliability.
Hair follicle testing in Port Saint John, FL, offers an extensive detection timeframe extending up to 90 days. This broad window allows employers to gain complete visibility into an individual's substance use history.
Opting for hair follicle testing in Port Saint John, FL, significantly minimizes the risk of tampering with samples, leading to trustworthy results.
With a network of testing centers spanning nationwide, including local options in Port Saint John, FL, we ensure convenient access to drug testing services.
Our hair follicle testing in Port Saint John, FL maintains a confidential and straightforward process.
Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Port Saint John, FL.
Hair follicle tests in Port Saint John, FL, are unrivaled for their precision and efficacy. These tests not only capture a comprehensive view of substance use but also deliver rapid and exact outcomes.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Port Saint John, FL assists employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace regulations.