Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture long-term usage indicators within their structure as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair samples can provide a detection history spanning up to three months for alcohol and drug exposure. The collection process is straightforward, the possibility of tampering is minimal, and shipment is convenient.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or testing covering more than 10 panels, a minimum of 150mg of hair is advisable. Measuring the hair on a jeweler's scale is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" pertains to all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory handling of a drug test result primarily involves four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's operations. This means checking that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any missing details from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as an initial examination for substance misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method for excluding drug use in most instances, a positive result must be verified for legal validity. Samples with a presumptive positive outcome in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
For samples that show presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this process, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid testing), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug screening.
The Confirmation of any preliminary positive result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technology. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Strengths of hair drug screening:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", it is the hair strand that is analyzed, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing Hair testing in Warwick, GA, offers crucial advantages over urine tests.
Extended Detection Window Hair follicle testing provides insight over an extended period in Warwick, GA.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method Hair tests offer robust reliability in Warwick, GA.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations In Warwick, GA, and beyond, our centers are easily accessible.
Simple, Confidential Process The hair testing process in Warwick, GA, is straightforward.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround Benefit from cost-effective options in Warwick, GA.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results Hair follicle testing in Warwick, GA, ensures swift and dependable outcomes.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers Hair testing supports drug-free workplaces in Warwick, GA.
