Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments are regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair can reflect a detection period of up to approximately 90 days for alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, it is a bit challenging to tamper with, and it is simple to mail.
A sample of 1.5 inches, roughly 200 hair strands (analogous to the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for verification and analysis. For EtG, additional testing, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not an option, collecting an equivalent quantity of body hair is permissible. Head hair denotes scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair encompasses other types such as facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
The four principal stages in the laboratory handling of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a confirmed positive screen is critical for courtroom admissibility. Specimens presumed positive in Screening require an additional verification.
Should a sample appear presumptively positive during Screening, more hair from the original sample is used in Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than in other methods (like urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most demanding methodology to execute.
Any positive screening outcomes are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test fundamentally evaluates the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing stands superior to traditional urine testing in Virden, IL. While both methods aim to detect drug use, hair testing offers far greater detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair tests capture a wider timeframe of substance use, thus providing an extensive history rather than a short snapshot, and reducing the potential for false negatives.
Hair follicle testing extends the boundaries of drug detection in Virden, IL, by covering up to 90 days of substance history. This comprehensive window allows employers to gain thorough insights into the past behavior of applicants or employees. Unlike other limited testing methods, hair follicle tests provide a broader scope of detection, ensuring more informed decisions.
The integrity of hair follicle testing in Virden, IL, is unmatched, as it significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. This reliable method ensures the detection results are trustworthy and remain unquestionable, providing confidence in the accuracy of the findings and reducing the potential for testing manipulation.
With convenient testing centers across the nation, including Virden, IL, accessing hair follicle testing services is straightforward. These widespread locations ensure fast and easy service availability while minimizing travel and time off work, thus providing a hassle-free testing experience for all involved.
In Virden, IL, hair follicle testing is characterized by its simple and confidential process. The ordering, testing, and result-receiving stages are designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that privacy concerns are met without sacrificing ease of use, thus fostering trust in the testing process.
Our competitive pricing in Virden, IL, for hair follicle tests provides outstanding value combined with fast turnaround times. Companies of any size can benefit from cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality, thus ensuring efficient and reliable drug testing practices without financial strain.
The efficiency and precision of hair follicle drug tests in Virden, IL, offer substantial benefits. With speedy results and high accuracy, these tests effectively identify substances, thus ensuring reliable outcomes. This method's accuracy not only confirms the presence of drugs over an extended period but also gives confidence in its ability to provide easy-to-understand results.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Virden, IL, offers employers peace of mind by maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method effectively mitigates legal risks and enhances workplace safety, ensuring a trustworthy environment and reinforcing organizational commitment to a safe, drug-free workplace.
