Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands, hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present approximately a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect specimen for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair can be sourced. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (i.e., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the lab handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning consists of the introductory handling of a sample within a lab's system. This entails ensuring the sample was sealed and sent properly, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening features an initial brief evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result needs validation to be court-admissible. All samples that initially test positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.
When a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. At this point, drugs are isolated from hair at a substantially lower concentration relative to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the scalp-located hair follicle.
In Hagerstown, IN, hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over urine tests.
With superior detection precision, hair tests reveal drug use more accurately.
Benefits include a broader detection window and the ability to detect repeat consumption, offering clear insights into substance use patterns.
Hair follicle testing in Hagerstown, IN, extends the detection window remarkably.
Unlike traditional tests, hair follicle tests highlight drug use up to 90 days.
Comprehensive View: This long-term overview is invaluable for employers evaluating an applicant or employee's substance history.
In Hagerstown, IN, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant method.
Hair tests significantly cut down the risks of sample manipulation.
Reliability: These tests ensure dependable results, making them a go-to option for authenticity in drug testing.
Hagerstown, IN, benefits from extensive, accessible testing locations nationwide.
With abundant centers, scheduling and conducting tests become seamless.
Convenience: Local and national testing sites ensure services are quick and hassle-free.
In Hagerstown, IN, our hair testing process is straightforward and private.
Ordering, taking, and receiving results are carried out with utmost confidentiality.
Simplicity: The process addresses privacy concerns, making it user-friendly while maintaining privacy.
Affordable pricing the hallmark of hair follicle testing in Hagerstown, IN.
Fast turnaround times offer excellent value and assurance to businesses.
Value: Competitive pricing structures accommodate companies of all sizes, aiding their drug testing needs efficiently.
In Hagerstown, IN, hair follicle tests are fast and precise, ensuring accurate detection of substance usage.
This testing method excels in reliability and efficiency.
Accuracy is a hallmark of hair tests, as they detect substance use with utmost precision, reducing the risk of false negatives or positives commonly associated with other methods.
Employers in Hagerstown, IN, find compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing.
These tests align with drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal liabilities.
Safety: Hair testing enhances workplace safety, reflecting its efficacy in maintaining a stringent drug-free environment.
