Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a significant instrument in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug presence by capturing biomarkers within its strands. When retrieved near the scalp, hair can deliver a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and easy to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, entailing roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and tests exceeding ten panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is beneficial to gauge the sample weight on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t present, a similar amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair. "Body hair" regards all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome mainly involves Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning incorporates the initial handling of a sample into a lab's framework. It verifies the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any data not included in an electronic chain of custody.
Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to hold up in court. Any Screening samples suggesting a positive result still necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample appear presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair in much lesser concentrations than in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug detection the most intricate methodology to undertake.
Confirmation of each positive screen is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positives are washed before confirmation where required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests surpass more traditional urine analysis by offering superior detection precision and reliability in Clayton, GA. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a longer detection window and are less invasive to administer. This ensures a more accurate reflection of an individual's drug usage history, aiding employers in making informed decisions about potential hires.
Hair follicle tests in Clayton, GA, are ideal for evaluating drug use over extensive durations, typically revealing information about substance consumption for up to 90 days. This comprehensive timeline offers employers a thorough profile of an individual's past drug use, assisting in assessing suitability for employment.
One of the key advantages of hair follicle tests conducted in Clayton, GA, is their resistance to tampering, offering results that are both reliable and unquestionable. The nature of the test makes sample adulteration highly unlikely, providing confidence to employers seeking to uphold stringent workplace policies.
Our expansive network of testing facilities across the nation and in Clayton, GA, ensures hassle-free access to drug testing services. This convenience allows individuals and businesses alike to easily engage with our testing processes, providing a seamless experience from start to finish.
The journey from deciding on a hair follicle test to receiving the results in Clayton, GA, is designed to be straightforward and discreet. We ensure that the process meets high standards of privacy and simplicity, addressing any potential concerns regarding confidentiality and ease of use for our clients.
Offering competitive pricing and rapid result delivery in Clayton, GA, our hair follicle testing service emphasizes affordability without compromising quality. Our prompt turnaround times allow businesses of all scales to benefit from value-driven, trustworthy testing solutions that cater to their specific needs.
In Clayton, GA, hair follicle testing stands out as exceedingly precise, offering expedited and trustworthy results. Its high accuracy rate in detecting substance use makes it a preferred choice among both employers and legal authorities. The efficiency of processing and analyzing hair samples results in quicker diagnostics compared to conventional methods, ensuring rapid feedback.
Employers in Clayton, GA, can achieve compliance and peace of mind by integrating hair follicle testing, which supports drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal liabilities and elevating safety standards, businesses can maintain a secure work environment conducive to productivity and trust.