Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to ship.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for initial assessments and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is scarce, a comparable quantity of body hair is an alternative. When addressing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial entry of a sample into the laboratory’s system, ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing supplementary data entry lacking in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug consumption in most samples, a positive outcome necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening require supplementary verification.
For samples with presumptive positives during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), contributing to hair drug screening being the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation for any screening positives is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing before confirmation, as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle tests offer significant advantages in detection accuracy. In Calhoun, GA, procuring a reliable drug test is made easier with hair follicle testing. Urine tests have limitations in detection periods, but hair tests excel by identifying drug usage over extended durations, providing a more comprehensive assessment.
Employers benefit tremendously from using hair testing due to its robust accuracy. Unlike urine tests that can be manipulated or altered by the user, hair follicle tests showcase a superior reliability, ensuring truthful results are maintained for screening processes.
With the ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days, hair follicle testing offers a long-term view of an individual's substance intake in Calhoun, GA. Employers can gain insights into the drug-use history of potential hires, allowing strategic decisions on workforce integrity.
This enhanced window for detection ensures that inconsistent drug use patterns are documented and reviewed thoroughly, providing a more holistic view of an individual's history.
Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method greatly enhancing the reliability of results in Calhoun, GA. This testing is typically uncheatable due to its unique sample type, reducing risks associated with traditional testing alternatives.
For organizations and individuals concerned about the integrity of drug tests, hair testing provides peace of mind that samples collected remain authentic and have not been altered for deceptive purposes.
Our nationwide testing centers, including facilities in Calhoun, GA, offer unparalleled convenience for individuals seeking hair follicle drug tests. Easy access to these centers ensures that logistical challenges do not impede the testing process.
Frequent locations nationwide provide efficient pathways for obtaining results, catering to both local and remote requirements.
In Calhoun, GA, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential, providing users with ease and privacy.
The confidentiality of both the process and results underscores a commitment to privacy, fostering trust between the testing center and the individual tested, removing common barriers seen in drug testing scenarios.
Calhoun, GA benefits from affordable pricing structures with fast turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests. These competitive rates present value for organizations of all sizes without sacrificing reliability.
This balance of affordability and speed enhances the decision-making processes, ensuring high standards are maintained without exceeding budgetary constraints.
In Calhoun, GA, hair follicle drug tests represent a blend of speed and precision. The testing method provides fast and accurate results, allowing quick detection of substance usage over a lengthy period.
Delivering excellent accuracy, these tests capture a wide spectrum of substance usage, proving essential for various stakeholders like employers and legal entities. The detailed results empower decision-making with substantive data.
Employers in Calhoun, GA find solace in using hair follicle testing to ensure compliance with drug-free workplace standards. Significant legal risks are mitigated since hair testing provides substantial evidence within a prolonged detection window.
Hair-stem testing acts as a barrier against potential drug use in the workplace by offering uncompromised benchmarks for substance checks. This, in turn, enhances workplace safety and reduces the need for costly litigations.
