Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands, providing a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for these substances. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample size for screening and confirming results. For tests including EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary step of incorporating a sample into a laboratory's system, involving verification of proper sealing and shipment, assignment of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of any data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it is economical for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screening requires confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than those in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a more complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive results from screening is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen by both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Within the Cherry, IL domain, hair follicle analysis excels over customary urine tests by offering superior detection. While urine tests capture recent drug use, hair analysis reveals drug patterns over months. This expanded insight ensures enhanced detection success and reliability, confirming hair tests as the preferred choice for comprehensive substance monitoring.
Hair follicle evaluations provide an enlarged detection spectrum up to 90 days, providing Cherry, IL employers a broad reflection of an individual's substance history. This prolonged analysis period enables a deeper understanding of an applicant's drug usage, supporting informed decisions on hiring or continued employment, based on a broader overview.
The inherent design of hair follicle tests almost eliminates tampering chances, making them a dependable option. In Cherry, IL, these tests are crafted to maintain integrity against falsification, offering honest and unquestionable outcomes, thus establishing trust in results devoid of any compromise.
Accredited Drug Testing in Cherry, IL provides seamless access to testing centers nationwide, ensuring a straightforward experience. With a broad presence across numerous cities, clients find convenience in obtaining quick, simple service, mitigating potential obstacles linked with limited locale availability.
Confidentiality and simplicity are core to the testing process in Cherry, IL. Every stage, from order to results, is handled smoothly while prioritizing discretion. This ensures a comfortable experience for every client, allaying any privacy or complexity concerns that might arise throughout the procedure.
Offering competitive rates and expedited results is a priority in Cherry, IL. The pricing is structured to cater to varying company sizes while ensuring rapid service, providing excellent value. Clients find assurance in both cost-effectiveness and the quick turnaround, aligning with their financial and operational needs.
In Cherry, IL, hair follicle testing stands out for its swiftness, precision, and dependability. Unlike other methods, it offers prompt and reliable insights into substance use. Whether for employers or individuals, the meticulous design of hair assays ensures accuracy, providing clarity and trust in the results obtained.
For Cherry, IL companies, hair follicle screenings assure adherence to drug-free workplace principles, minimizing legal risks. By choosing such tests, employers are promised peace of mind, as they fortify workplace safety standards and comply with necessary regulations, all while preserving a productive work atmosphere.