Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month window for alcohol and other substance detection. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar amount of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial entry of a sample into the lab’s system. This step includes confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any absent data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. Although it is an economical method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is retrieved from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations considerably lower than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
Any positive screening results are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the assessment in fact evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Charles, GA, hair testing stands superior. It offers unmatched detection accuracy and reliability, far exceeding what urine tests can provide.
Hair follicle testing in Charles, GA, excels with its extensive detection window, which spans up to 90 days. This provides employers a comprehensive view of substance use history, invaluable for decision-making.
Hair follicle testing in Charles, GA, is renowned for its tamper-resistant methods, drastically reducing sample adulteration risks. The results are both reliable and virtually incontestable.
In Charles, GA, and beyond, the convenience of our nationwide and local testing centers ensures easy access to services. This wide network offers a hassle-free experience for all testing needs.
The hair follicle testing process in Charles, GA, is designed to be both simple and confidential. This ensures a streamlined experience for ordering, conducting, and obtaining test results.
In Charles, GA, we offer hair follicle testing at competitive prices with fast turnaround times. This commitment provides excellent value and peace of mind for businesses large and small.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Charles, GA, offer unmatched accuracy in substance detection. This method boasts high reliability, ensuring swift results that are invaluable to employers.
Employers in Charles, GA, gain peace of mind through compliance with drug-free policies via hair follicle testing. This method significantly reduces legal risks and ensures workplace safety.
