Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a significant method in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of drug and alcohol history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. With samples obtained close to the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to about three months for drugs and alcohol. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (approximating the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For enhanced tests, including EtG or those beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four pivotal steps in processing a laboratory drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This process ensures the sample was adequately sealed and transported, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as the preliminary check for drug abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug presence in most samples, to be court-admissible, a positive screen needs endorsement. Samples suggestive of positivity in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
If a sample tests suggestively positive at the Screening phase, more hair from the initial sample is extracted for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is the most complex procedure.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used for confirming any positive screening outcomes. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 certifications.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.
In Mount Olive, IL, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in various ways.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Olive, IL offers an impressive extended detection window that spans up to 90 days. This affords employers a more exhaustive insight into an individual’s potential history with substance use. Employers thus gain a more complete understanding of an applicant's or existing employee's drug habits beyond what shorter-term screening methods can deliver.
In Mount Olive, IL, hair follicle tests present a significantly tamper-resistant method of substance screening. When compared to other testing types, hair samples are notably hard to adulterate, thus providing results that are not only trustworthy but also undisputable. This makes them an essential tool for organizations demanding the utmost integrity in their testing processes.
The convenience of nationwide testing centers ensures that in Mount Olive, IL access to drug screening services is quick and straightforward. Testing locally makes it easy for individuals and organizations to engage with our services, experiencing minimal hassle. This comprehensive network aids in maintaining a streamlined process for all users, no matter where they are situated.
Our simple and confidential processes in Mount Olive, IL make ordering, undergoing, and receiving hair follicle test results straightforward. See privacy maintained at each step as you navigate the testing journey, ensuring peace of mind with your sensitive information always protected. This ensures ease every step of the way.
In Mount Olive, IL, our testing services are designed with affordability and fast turnaround at the forefront. Competitive pricing ensures organizations of all sizes can access quality drug tests without budget strains, while results are swiftly processed and communicated, reinforcing the value for customers seeking efficient verification methods.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Mount Olive, IL are unmatched. These tests stand out due to their high accuracy in identifying any substance use, whether recent or historic. The fast processing time means results are not just reliable but also quickly delivered. This makes hair testing a prime choice for those needing efficient and dependable outcomes in drug screening.
By utilizing hair follicle tests in Mount Olive, IL, employers can more readily achieve compliance with their workplace drug-free programs. This reliable testing method helps minimize legal complications and fosters a safer work environment. With stringent drug-free operations, employers gain peace of mind, knowing that their teams are substance-free and policies are upheld.
