Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers in its strands. When snipped near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month window of detection for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easily transportable.
A 1.5-inch portion with about 200 strands of hair (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is recommended. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we refer to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (including facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for analyzing a drug test result consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial intake of a sample into a lab's system. This involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary quick examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. All samples that have presumptive positives during Screening need further confirmation.
Should a result be presumptively positive at the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lesser concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is the most complex method to conduct.
Confirmation of positive screenings is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples found to be presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the whole lab procedure is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle itself beneath the scalp.
Hair testing in Dixie Union, GA demonstrates clear advantages over traditional urine tests. Superb detection accuracy and reliability are standout features, making hair testing the preferred choice for longer-term detection of substance use.
Hair follicle tests in Dixie Union, GA provide a unique extended detection window of up to 90 days, far surpassing other methods. Employers gain comprehensive insights into an individual’s substance history, benefiting from the broader time frame for evidence of use.
With hair follicle testing in Dixie Union, GA, the risk of sample tampering is significantly minimized. Results are reliable and unquestionable, offering a testing method that stands strong against common adulteration tactics to ensure true outcome reliability.
Accredited Drug Testing in Dixie Union, GA provides conveniences with our comprehensive network of testing centers nationwide. Enjoy hassle-free access to testing services, ensuring you have a quick and easy path to drug testing no matter where you are.
The process for scheduling, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results in Dixie Union, GA is both simple and confidential. Ease of use and privacy are prioritized, giving customers a seamless experience tailored to preserving personal confidential information.
In Dixie Union, GA, we offer hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and rapid turnaround. Providing exceptional value for companies of all sizes, our services ensure fast results and affordability, essential for maintaining peace of mind.
In Dixie Union, GA, hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled speed and precision compared to other methods. Accurately detecting any substance use, these tests are designed not just for efficiency but for comprehensive and reliable results delivered in a timely manner.
For employers in Dixie Union, GA, using hair follicle drug testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risk and creates a safer working environment, providing peace of mind through adherence to strict safety standards.