Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method to identify drug and alcohol usage. By capturing biomarkers in the growing hair fibers, hair offers a substantial historical record of alcohol and drugs. When taken near to the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month period for detection of substances. Hair is easy to gather, fairly challenging to manipulate, and straightforward to send.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to #2 pencil thickness) near to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests covering more than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. Our references to head hair imply scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test result includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step in processing a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and transported, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and enters any additional data not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid check for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical method for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples marked as presumptive-positive in Screening necessitate further validation.
In cases where a sample is marked presumptive-positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While referred to as "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
In Addison, IL, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing, offering unparalleled accuracy and reliability.
Benefits include:
Hair tests are especially useful for employers with zero-tolerance policies and for legal proceedings where accuracy is crucial. While urine tests are effective for short-term detection, hair tests provide a longer history of substance use, giving employers and authorities a broader understanding of an individual’s habits.
Hair follicle testing in Addison, IL, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This longer timeframe:
This extended detection period is particularly advantageous for organizations committed to maintaining drug-free workplaces, as it allows monitoring over a more significant timeframe.
The hair follicle test significantly reduces tampering risks, proving an ideal solution in Addison, IL.
Benefits include:
By utilizing this testing method, concerns about sample adulteration or substitution are virtually eliminated, providing peace of mind to all parties involved in the testing process.
Convenience meets efficiency with our nationwide testing centers:
This wide reach ensures that individuals and businesses receive timely and convenient testing, essential for maintaining regular checks and compliance obligations.
Our testing services in Addison, IL, offer a simple and confidential process:
The confidentiality of our services is paramount, offering users reassurance and trust in handling sensitive information associated with drug testing processes.
In Addison, IL, our hair testing services combine affordability with rapid results:
Balancing both cost and efficiency, our services allow businesses to manage their drug testing processes effectively without compromising on quality or speed of service.
The precision and speed of hair follicle tests make them a preferred method in Addison, IL.
Benefits include:
This testing standard helps maintain safety and compliance across various sectors, from corporate settings to legal environments, where timely drug testing results are necessary.
Employers in Addison, IL, can rely on hair follicle testing for compliance and peace of mind.
This method proves essential for companies striving to uphold stringent drug policies, thereby reinforcing their commitment to safety and compliance.
