Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a compelling method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It provides a prolonged history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers an estimated 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair is convenient to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to send.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for initial and confirmatory tests. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers to only scalp hair; "body hair" refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary steps in processing a drug test in the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning begins with entering a sample into a lab’s system. This includes confirming whether the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to filter out drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court acceptance. Samples that screen positive presumptively need secondary confirmation.
If a sample screens positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used for confirming any positive screening outcomes. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests in Sand Mountain, GA, due to its superior detection capabilities. While urine tests detect recent drug use, hair tests offer a broader detection window, enhancing accuracy and dependability. This makes hair follicle tests a preferred choice for employers and legal authorities, providing a more comprehensive screening solution.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, provides employers in Sand Mountain, GA, with a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history. This long detection period allows for an in-depth assessment, facilitating informed hiring and monitoring decisions.
With hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, the chances of sample tampering are significantly minimized. The integrity of the samples remains intact throughout the process, delivering results that are both reliable and beyond reproach, thus ensuring confidence in the testing outcomes.
For residents of Sand Mountain, GA, and beyond, our nationwide network of testing centers guarantees convenient access to hair follicle tests. With both local and widespread facilities, securing a test is a quick and straightforward process, eliminating any hassle.
The process of hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to collecting the sample and receiving results, the procedure emphasizes privacy and ease, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and user-friendliness.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Sand Mountain, GA, becomes an affordable option for companies regardless of size. Our pricing structure provides cost-effective solutions coupled with fast results, ensuring excellent value and reliability.
Sand Mountain, GA residents benefit from the fast, accurate, and reliable results of hair follicle drug tests. The precision of these tests stems from their robust methodology, ensuring high accuracy in detecting various substances. Unlike traditional methods, hair follicle testing provides quick results without compromising on reliability.
Employers seeking compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Sand Mountain, GA, find hair follicle testing ideal. By utilizing these tests, businesses can mitigate legal risks, ensure safety, and maintain peace of mind, knowing that their workplace is free from substance abuse issues.
