Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as a significant method for identifying substance use of drugs and alcohol. This analysis captures biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers, creating a detailed alcohol and drug history. Hair gathered near the scalp can offer a detection period of up to around three months for such substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.
An ideal screening and confirmation sample involves a 1.5-inch hair section, consisting of about 200 strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil), which will yield 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair is not available, collecting an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When we mention head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result primarily involves four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the foundational step of entering a sample into the laboratory's system. It confirms proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening conducts a preliminary, rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. Despite its cost-effectiveness in broadly ruling out drug usage, any positive screen result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples showing presumptive positive results during Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Should the Screening stage indicate a presumptive positive, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample for Extraction preparation. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations significantly lower than what other methodologies like urine or oral fluid detect, underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.
Affirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples yielding presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmation when needed. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand's structure, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing stands out over traditional urine tests in Fredericksburg, IN. Hair testing's superior detection accuracy offers a clear advantage as it reveals drug usage trends missed by urine screens.
Hair follicle testing’s extended detection window provides a wide-reaching review of drug use for up to 90 days in Fredericksburg, IN. Employers gain a thorough understanding of prospective or current employees’ substance habits.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Fredericksburg, IN dramatically limits the potential for sample adulteration.
Enjoy the convenience of accessible testing centers Nationwide, including those in Fredericksburg, IN.
In Fredericksburg, IN, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Initiating, participating in, and receiving results is straightforward.
Our services in Fredericksburg, IN highlight affordable pricing alongside fast turnaround times.
In Fredericksburg, IN, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method offers precision in tracking substance use that other tests can't match.
Employers in Fredericksburg, IN achieve peace of mind and compliance with workplace drug-free policies through hair follicle testing.
