Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analyses are increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores a long-term record by embedding biomarkers within its strands. When cut close to the scalp, it can reflect substance use over a detection period of up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to mail.
A sample of 1.5 inches, equivalent to approximately 200 strands (the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, provides 100mg for optimal screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-on tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It is advised to use a jeweler’s scale for precise specimen measurement. If scalp hair is unreachable, body hair in equal measure can be used. "Head hair" pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedure for processing a laboratory drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial sample processing within a lab’s system, confirming correct sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not provided by electronic chain of custody.
Screening entails a preliminary quick drug check. Despite being a cost-effective method for ruling out drug usage in most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial specimen is used for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from the hair at a much lesser concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening results is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In East Brooklyn, IL, hair follicle testing provides superior benefits over urine tests.
The extended detection window offered by hair follicle tests is a strong point in East Brooklyn, IL.
Hair follicle tests represent a tamper-resistant method in East Brooklyn, IL.
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In East Brooklyn, IL, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential.
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Hair follicle drug tests in East Brooklyn, IL stand out for their accuracy and swiftness. Their precision in detecting substances is unmatched, surpassing traditional testing methods.
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For employers in East Brooklyn, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind.