Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The examination of hair is recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term log for alcohol and other substances, capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When procured near the scalp, hair offers up to a three-month period to detect alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the circumference of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the preferred sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary examinations, and/or analyses surpassing 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. The use of a jewelry scale for accurate measurement is advised. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a proportionate amount of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, it denotes exclusively scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedure of lab processing for a drug test comprises four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab's system. This procedure involves ensuring that the sample is properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplementary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid detection for substance abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for most samples, any positive screening outcome must be validated to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples deemed positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
When a sample shows a positive result in Screening, an additional portion of hair is extracted from the original collection for the Extraction process. During this stage, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked as presumptive positive undergo washing before confirmation if required. The full laboratory procedure, encompassing Accessioning and Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though often called "hair follicle tests," the examination targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine testing in Plains, GA, the benefits are clear. Hair tests provide superior detection capabilities, offering a broader window for spotting substance use. This accuracy in results makes them a reliable tool, surpassing the limitations of urine testing and ensuring a more thorough drug use analysis.
Hair follicle tests offer an extended detection window up to 90 days, providing employers in Plains, GA with a thorough review of an individual's substance history. This broader timeline ensures a more comprehensive understanding, surpassing the capabilities of shorter-span tests like urine testing, and empowering employers with deeper insights into potential substance use.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Plains, GA, offers a significant advantage, minimizing risks of sample tampering. This method secures reliable, unquestionable results, thereby establishing itself as a trustworthy option for detecting substance use, ensuring the integrity of testing outcomes in various scenarios.
Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide centers offer utmost convenience, with local facilities in Plains, GA, providing quick and easy access. This extensive network ensures a hassle-free experience, making testing services readily available when and where needed.
For residents of Plains, GA, our hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, we prioritize privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns clients may have about discretion in their testing journey.
With competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Plains, GA deliver excellent value. Companies of all sizes can benefit from efficient, affordable testing solutions that provide fast results without compromising quality.
In Plains, GA, the precision of hair follicle drug tests stands out, providing rapid and consistent results. With high accuracy in substance use detection, these tests set a standard of reliability. Their advanced methodology ensures results you can trust, making them a top choice for employers and other entities requiring rapid verification of drug use.
In Plains, GA, utilizing hair follicle testing grants employers peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal liabilities and enhances workplace safety, safeguarding against substance misuse and upholding company standards.
