Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments have emerged as a strong instrument for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair holds extended records of alcohol and substances by capturing biomarkers inside the fibres of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, it can offer an approximate three-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additions, and/or over 10 panel tests, a 150mg sample is suggested. It is advised to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a corresponding amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair indicate scalp hair exclusively. Body hair refers to all other hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. It features confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for substance misuse. Though Screening is a budget-friendly way to eliminate drug use in many samples, a positive screen needs confirmation for court acceptance. Any samples that are provisionally positive in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.
In cases where a sample is provisionally positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, substances are withdrawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most complex method to conduct.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All provisional positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle underneath the scalp.
Advantages of Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Testing in Macedonia, GA
Prolonged Detection Period in Macedonia, GA
Secure Testing Method in Macedonia, GA
Convenient Nationwide and Local Locations in Macedonia, GA
Effortless, Private Procedure in Macedonia, GA
Cost-Effective Pricing and Quick Results in Macedonia, GA
Quick and Trustworthy Outcomes in Macedonia, GA
Ensuring Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Macedonia, GA