Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of the growing hair strand capture biomarkers, providing a long-term record of drug and alcohol use. Collected near the scalp, hair can yield a detection window of about 3 months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for shipping.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (akin to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, making it ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels beyond 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be substituted. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair types, including facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
The laboratory process involved in determining a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the sample’s initial integration into the laboratory’s system. This step verifies the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening acts as an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that screen positive need further confirmation.
Should a sample screen positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction phase. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is attained through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positivity undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand, not the scalp’s hair follicle.
Enhanced Detection with Hair Testing: In St. Libory, hair follicle tests outshine urine testing due to longer detection periods and enhanced accuracy. Employers favor hair tests for their comprehensive drug use insights compared to traditional urine tests.
Unmatched Reliability: Hair testing in St. Libory offers superior reliability in substance detection over conventional urine tests, making it a preferred choice for accurate and trustworthy results.
Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle tests in St. Libory provide a substantial detection period, offering insights into substance use over 90 days. This extended timeframe offers employers a holistic view of potential employees' drug history.
Comprehensive Substance History: In St. Libory, hair testing extends the detection window far beyond traditional methods, ensuring a detailed assessment of an individual's substance use over months.
Secure Testing Method: Hair follicle testing in St. Libory significantly decreases tampering risks, delivering incontrovertible and trustworthy results due to its stringent collection procedures.
Reliability Against Tampering: St. Libory's hair drug testing ensures robust reliability, reducing chances of sample adulteration and maintaining the credibility of the drug testing process.
Convenient Access: With numerous nationwide centers and local sites in St. Libory, our testing services ensure convenient access, facilitating an effortless testing experience for all clients.
Ease of Testing: Numerous testing locations, including those in St. Libory, provide easy and quick access. Our clients appreciate the convenient locations for conducting essential hair drug tests.
Streamlined Process: The hair testing process in St. Libory is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease from ordering to result reception, putting clients' concerns at ease.
Confidential and Easy: St. Libory clients experience a hassle-free, discreet procedure when ordering, completing, and receiving results from hair drug tests, maintaining their confidence.
Competitive and Timely: St. Libory offers competitive pricing for hair testing solutions, boasting swift turnaround times that provide highly valuable and reassuring outcomes for businesses of any scale.
Cost-Effective Solutions: With competitive rates and prompt results, our hair testing services in St. Libory offer companies cost-effective solutions alongside rapid outcomes.
Precision in Testing: Hair follicle drug tests in St. Libory are valued for their accuracy and prompt results. Utilizing hair samples, these tests detect a wide array of substances quickly, ensuring dependability and safety in drug screening processes.
Accuracy Guaranteed: St. Libory's hair drug testing offers unmatched accuracy, efficiently identifying drug use and furnishing prompt results. Clients can trust in the test's precision, gaining confidence in its outcomes.
Ensuring Compliance: St. Libory employers benefit from hair follicle testing to guarantee adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal issues and enhancing safety.
Peace of Mind for Employers: Utilizing hair tests in St. Libory for drug-free compliance ensures legal safety and a secure work environment, granting employers peace of mind.
