Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. When extracted near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use history for up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A segment of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests exceeding ten panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Utilization of a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. In cases where scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be procured. When using the term head hair, it exclusively refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Overview of the Procedure
The laboratory processing of drug test results involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary quick assessment to check for drug abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive outcome in Screening must be confirmed to be legally valid. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate successive confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptively positive results during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at far lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.
Any positive results from Screening undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before proceeding to confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.
Benefits of hair drug analysis:
Constraints:
Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Emmett Bench, ID, hair follicle testing significantly surpasses urine testing in several ways. Detection of drugs is markedly superior due to a longer window of detection, often up to 90 days.
Offering an extended detection window is a crucial advantage of hair follicle testing in Emmett Bench, ID.
Hair follicle tests are known for their capacity to limit sample tampering. In Emmett Bench, ID, this testing method is considered tamper-resistant, fostering trust in the results' integrity.
With nationwide testing centers available, including those in Emmett Bench, ID, accessing hair follicle testing is both swift and convenient.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is simple and confidential, ensuring peace of mind for those in Emmett Bench, ID.
Competitive pricing and fast turnaround are highlights of our service in Emmett Bench, ID. Companies of all sizes can appreciate the value we offer.
The hair follicle drug testing process offers exceptional precision and swift results in Emmett Bench, ID. Accuracy in detecting substance use stands out, ensuring the results are reliable.
Employers in Emmett Bench, ID, can find peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies has never been easier.
