Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is acknowledged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers in the strands of the developing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can supply a detection window for alcohol and drugs extending up to about 3 months. The collection of hair is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.
A sample length of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or examinations beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler's scale is recommended for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair might be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it exclusively pertains to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other forms of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test samples involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the initial phase of logging a sample into a laboratory's system. This encompasses verifying proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a rapid preliminary examination for drug substances. Although Screening offers an economical approach to excluding drug presence in most samples, positive screenings must be validated to be legally admissible. Samples with presumptive positive results from Screening require subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), as a result, hair drug screening stands as the most challenging method to execute.
Any positive screening result's confirmation is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination itself analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Davis, IL, is clear when comparing their benefits. Hair tests offer enhanced detection accuracy, covering a longer history of substance use, unlike traditional urine tests. Their reliability and longer detection window make hair testing the preferred method.
Extended Detection Window is a significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Davis, IL. These tests can spot drug usage over a period of up to 90 days, giving employers a broader understanding of an individual's substance usage history, far beyond the capacity of standard tests.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method stands out in Davis, IL, as hair follicle tests are notably robust against tampering. The process minimizes the risk of sample manipulation, ensuring results that are both trustworthy and uncontested.
Convenient Testing Locations in Davis, IL, offer unmatched accessibility. With numerous nationwide centers and local facilities, Accredited Drug Testing provides quick, straightforward, and stress-free access to all required testing services, enhancing efficiency.
Simple and Confidential Process for engaging in hair follicle testing in Davis, IL, makes the experience seamless. The ordering, testing, and result retrieval are guarded with strict confidentiality, ensuring user privacy and ease at every step.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround are key factors offered in Davis, IL. Accredited Drug Testing provides competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for businesses of varying sizes, alongside prompt and authoritative testing results.
Fast and Accurate Results are crucial when assessing substance use. In Davis, IL, hair follicle tests provide both precision and speed, delivering reliable outcomes rapidly. These tests are celebrated for their accuracy, making them a superior choice for detecting various drugs.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Davis, IL, is greatly enhanced with hair follicle testing. This method guarantees adherence to workplace drug policies, mitigating legal threats and bolstering workplace safety through reliable substance monitoring.
