Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. It captures longstanding usage patterns by securing biomarkers in the fibers of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug use over a window of about three months. Collection is straightforward, tampering is tricky, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A 1.5-inch hair sample, roughly 200 strands or the width of a #2 pencil, closest to the scalp provides around 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis. For EtG, additional assays, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. 'Head hair' refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas 'body hair' includes all other types like facial or underarm hair.
Process Overview
Key stages in testing a sample in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning starts with inputting a sample into a laboratory's system. This incorporates verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adding any missing data from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening consists of an initial drug-check. Though economical for ruling out drugs in most samples, court-admissibility requires positive screenings to undergo further validation. Presumptive positives in Screening must have secondary confirmations.
For samples marked positive in Screening, additional hair from the original sample is set aside for Extraction. Here, drug concentrations are drawn from hair at lower levels compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair testing poses greater challenges.
Confirmation of positives from Screening involves using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all samples showing presumptive positives are cleansed as necessary. Every phase from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review as part of the CAP Hair designation and in line with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often dubbed as "hair follicle tests", this test actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing:
Hair follicle tests offer enhanced accuracy and detection capabilities in St. Simons, GA. Compared to urine tests, hair analysis captures a fuller picture, providing unmatched reliability in identifying substance use.
Extended Detection Window:
Hair follicle testing in St. Simons, GA offers detection of up to 90 days of drug use, delivering comprehensive insights into an individual’s substance history for employers.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method:
In St. Simons, GA, hair follicle tests minimize the risk of sample tampering, ensuring results that are both reliable and credible, thus safeguarding against adulteration.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations:
Our comprehensive network of testing centers, including those in St. Simons, GA, facilitates swift and straightforward access to hair follicle drug testing services, ensuring hassle-free experiences.
Simple, Confidential Process:
In St. Simons, GA, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and secure, safeguarding privacy while simplifying the steps of ordering, testing, and receiving results.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround:
In St. Simons, GA, we offer competitive pricing and rapid result delivery, granting excellent value alongside swift hair follicle testing services for businesses of all sizes.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results:
In St. Simons, GA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and speed. Their robust accuracy ensures drugs are detected effectively, offering unparalleled reliability in substance use screening.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers:
Employing hair follicle testing in St. Simons, GA ensures adherence to drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and bolstering workplace safety with assured compliance.
