Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective instrument in detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drugs by securing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When collected near the scalp, it offers close to a 3-month window for drug and alcohol detection. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, with roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair—the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional elements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar volume of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it solely refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all alternative hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Outline
The process within a laboratory for handling drug test results involves these main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning covers the initial intake of a specimen into the lab's workflow. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any required data inputs absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a rapid preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Despite Screening being a cost-efficient technique to dismiss drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result from Screening necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples preliminarily positive during Screening demand subsequent confirmation.
If a sample is suspected positive in Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.
Confirmation for any positive screening is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are washed as required. The whole process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why opt for hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in Grass Creek, IN? The benefits are clear. Hair tests not only detect substances with increased accuracy, but they also offer a superior level of reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing identifies a longer history of drug use, ensuring more comprehensive screening.
The undeniable advantage of hair follicle testing in Grass Creek, IN lies in its extensive detection window. It can track drug use up to 90 days, offering employers a complete overview of an individual’s history with substance use. This long detection period is pivotal for making informed hiring and monitoring decisions.
Known for its tamper-resistant nature, hair follicle testing greatly minimizes the chance of sample contamination. In Grass Creek, IN, this method is trusted for delivering results that are both reliable and unquestionable, ensuring the integrity of the testing process is maintained.
Convenient testing is available at nationwide and local locations in Grass Creek, IN. Our extensive network of centers guarantees swift, hassle-free access to testing services wherever needed, ensuring a smooth experience for all parties involved.
The process is simple and confidential in Grass Creek, IN. Ordering a test, providing a sample, and receiving results are all straightforward, maintaining the privacy and trust of all parties. This ensures a user-friendly experience from start to finish.
Affordable pricing and fast turnaround are hallmarks of our services in Grass Creek, IN. Competitive pricing structures combined with quick result processing offer exceptional value, catering to businesses of all sizes seeking reliable drug testing solutions.
In Grass Creek, IN, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, making them a preferred option for employers and legal entities. Hair tests swiftly uncover patterns of drug use, ensuring decisions made based on test results are well-informed and trust-worthy.
Hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind for employers in Grass Creek, IN. By adhering to strict drug-free policies, businesses not only reduce legal risks but also bolster workplace safety. This testing ensures a secure and drug-free working environment for all.
