Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage, hair testing is gaining prominence. Hair retains a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Situated near the scalp, hair can reflect a detection window of up to around three months for both alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, it's somewhat resistant to tampering, and it’s easy to transport.
A sample size of 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We advocate for using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair may be collected. Here, head hair refers strictly to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages included in processing a drug test result in a lab setting are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory's system. This encompasses confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Whilst providing a cost-effective method to exclude drug presence in most samples, a positive screen result must be corroborated to be valid in a legal context. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Should a sample test presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the preliminary sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than found in alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underpinning why hair drug screening is the most challenging to administer.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that presumptively tested positive are meticulously washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is observed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation based on ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine exams in Kennard, IN, the benefits of the former are evident. Hair testing offers unmatched detection accuracy and reliability, detecting substances over extended periods. In contrast, urine tests may miss recent drug use and are easier to manipulate.
Hair follicle testing in Kennard, IN, offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This comprehensive approach allows employers to understand an applicant or employee's drug history more thoroughly compared to other testing methods.
The hair follicle testing method used in Kennard, IN, is highly tamper-resistant, greatly reducing the likelihood of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures that the results are unquestionable, providing trustworthy insights into the individual's substance use history.
With convenient testing locations nationwide, including Kennard, IN, accessing hair follicle testing services is quick and hassle-free. The widespread availability of testing centers ensures that individuals can obtain the services they need without delay.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Kennard, IN, is simple and confidential. This streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns and provides an easy-to-use service, ensuring that results are handled discreetly.
Our hair follicle testing services in Kennard, IN, offer competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, ensuring affordability and value for businesses of all sizes. This combination of cost-effectiveness and prompt results gives companies peace of mind and excellent service.
The precision and speed of hair follicle tests in Kennard, IN, make them an ideal choice for reliable drug detection. Hair testing techniques quickly yield accurate results, capable of identifying substances with high accuracy. This method provides unmatched reliability, ensuring timely delivery of dependable outcomes.
By adopting hair follicle testing in Kennard, IN, employers can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing safety. This testing method provides peace of mind by demonstrating a committed approach to maintaining a drug-free environment.
