Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gardena, ID

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive timeline of alcohol and drug use by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can provide a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

Taking a 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of approximately 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels over 10, it's advised to collect 150mg of the sample. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer strictly to scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample within a lab’s system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drug substances. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug usage for the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples identified as presumptively positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than those used in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most intricate methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed prior to confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a more limited detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, which enhances result accuracy.
• Shows historical data: It can demonstrate a drug use pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing usually costs more compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables like hair color and personal growth rates can impact the drug metabolites' concentration in the hair.

Note: Often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gardena, ID

• Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy over urine tests.
• Employers benefit from more reliable results with hair testing, ensuring compliant hiring practices.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Gardena, ID

• Hair follicle testing spots drug use over a much larger timeframe, up to 90 days.
• Employers receive a complete view of an employee’s substance abuse history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gardena, ID

• Hair follicle tests greatly lower chances of sample adulteration.
• These tests assure trustworthy results, immune to common cheats.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gardena, ID

• With centers nationwide, quick and hassle-free access to testing is guaranteed.
• Our local presence in Gardena adds to testing convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Gardena, ID

• Ordering and performing the tests is straightforward, prioritizing confidentiality.
• Results are delivered efficiently, respecting privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gardena, ID

• Competitive pricing structures offer excellent value for companies.
• Quick turnaround times provide peace of mind for diverse organizations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gardena, ID

• The precision of hair follicle drug tests is unmatched, offering swift identification of substance use.
• These tests are renowned for their high accuracy, reducing the risk of false positives.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gardena, ID

• Hair testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies.
• It diminishes legal risks while bolstering workplace safety.

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