Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair acts as a repository for a prolonged history of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can reveal data for up to nearly 90 days related to alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, moderately challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, deemed ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen is advised. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" pertains strictly to scalp hair, whereas "Body hair" encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing for a drug test result includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning covers the foundational processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process ensures that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional necessary data entries not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an introductory assessment for substances of abuse. While it is an efficient means to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples preliminarily positive from Screening mandate a further validation.
Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and prepared for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are sourced from hair in concentrations considerably lower than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
To verify any screening results, confirmation is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptively positive undergo a wash before the confirmation process as required. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly mentioned as "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Ledford, IL, surpasses traditional urine tests by offering more reliable results. With superior detection accuracy, hair tests track drug use over a longer period, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter timeframe. Employers and courts favor hair testing for its unmatched ability to illustrate an individual’s substance history, thus improving trust in the testing process with greater dependability.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Ledford, IL, provides employers with a thorough analysis of an individual's drug use history. Covering a timeframe of up to 90 days, this method allows for a broader understanding of substance habits compared to traditional tests. This expansive detection capacity enables companies to make informed decisions about hiring and maintaining staff safety and policy adherence.
In Ledford, IL, hair follicle tests are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature. The testing method significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, providing results that are both reliable and unquestionable. This increased security ensures the integrity of the drug testing process, offering peace of mind to employers and other stakeholders who rely on these tests for substance abuse evaluations.
The availability of convenient nationwide testing locations makes accessing hair follicle drug testing services easy and efficient in Ledford, IL. With testing centers spread across various cities, individuals and businesses can enjoy quick, hassle-free access to necessary services. This widespread presence ensures that testing is never far away, making the process smooth and accessible for everyone involved.
In Ledford, IL, the simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing offers peace of mind to those concerned with privacy and ease of use. The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving results is designed to be straightforward and discreet, addressing user concerns while emphasizing confidentiality. This ensures that clients can confidently rely on the service without privacy concerns.
Accredited Drug Testing provides affordable pricing and a fast turnaround for hair follicle tests in Ledford, IL. Competitive pricing structures ensure excellent value, while quick processing times deliver results promptly. This combination offers peace of mind to companies of all sizes, ensuring that drug testing remains cost-effective and efficient, meeting the financial and operational needs of businesses.
In Ledford, IL, hair follicle tests are recognized for their precision and speed. These tests offer high accuracy in identifying substance usage, delivering fast results that benefit employers. Unlike other methods, they excel at quickly delivering trustworthy conclusions, thus enhancing the decision-making process for hiring and monitoring employees. This reliability proves essential for areas where timely results matter.
To ensure compliance and peace of mind among employers in Ledford, IL, hair follicle testing is an effective choice. By implementing this testing method, companies can uphold drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal risks and maintaining safety. The reliable results from hair tests enhance trust and policy adherence, making them an essential tool for employers aiming to protect their workforce and reputation.
