Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests are now perceived as an excellent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drugs by encasing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected close to the scalp, hair can furnish up to nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and easy to deliver.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, forming the perfect sample size for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is best to weigh the hair sample on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be taken. Mention of head hair implies scalp hair alone. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial hair, axillary hair, etc.).
Process Overview
The key phases in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the introductory handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This process verifies that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adds any extra information absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Even though Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to hold up in court. Any samples testing presumptively positive in Screening demand a secondary verification.
Should the sample emerge as presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and made ready for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening one of the most challenging forms of testing.
All positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample is cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the test in fact examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair Follicle Testing Advantages Over Urine in Fortsonia, GA are profound. Hair tests offer superior detection due to their longer detection periods, capturing up to months of history rather than days. This method boasts higher reliability, minimizing errors often associated with urine tests.
Prolonged Detection Window in Fortsonia, GA allows hair follicle tests to trace drug use for up to 90 days. This wide examination period helps employers gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance habits, aiding more informed decisions.
Reliability Through Tamper-Resistance in Fortsonia, GA. Hair tests are far less likely to suffer tampering, providing a secured and reliable method. This is crucial in maintaining the integrity of results which urine tests sometimes lack.
Convenient Testing Across Locations in Fortsonia, GA with our network of centers nationwide. This ensures fast and straightforward access to testing services, catering to diverse geographical workforces smoothly.
Effortless and Confidential processes in Fortsonia, GA make testing simpler. From ordering to receiving results, maintaining privacy and ease of use stands paramount, addressing all concerns efficiently.
Cost-Effective Solutions and Fast Results in Fortsonia, GA are within reach with our competitive pricing and quick turnaround. Our service guarantees excellent value for businesses, large and small.
Precision and Swiftness in Hair Tests in Fortsonia, GA are unmatched. These tests provide high accuracy in identifying substances, ensuring trust with every result. Compared to traditional methods, the hair follicle test minimizes false negatives and, when paired with speedy processing times.
Ensuring Compliance and Peace for employers in Fortsonia, GA through hair follicle testing supports adherence to drug-free policies. This method offers a layer of legal protection and workplace safety through superior reliability and comprehensive results.
