Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has become recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can provide a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and drug use. The collection process is straightforward, adulteration is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.
An ideal sample for screening and confirmation involves a 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yielding approximately 100mg of hair. For EtG, extended panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is unobtainable, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (such as facial and axillary).
Process Overview
There are four key stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial intake of a sample into a laboratory’s workflow. This entails ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, providing it with a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in court. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require additional confirmation.
Should a sample return a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. This stage involves removing drugs from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair testing stands out over traditional urine tests in Knox, IN, due to its superior detection capabilities. Urine tests, though effective for recent drug use, lack the long-term insights provided by hair follicle testing. Hair tests offer unmatched accuracy, tracing substance use as far back as 90 days, making them a crucial tool for employers aiming to enforce strict no-drug policies.
Reliability in drug detection ensures businesses maintain high safety standards.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a key factor in its popularity in Knox, IN. Hair tests can capture a comprehensive record of drug use up to 90 days prior, far exceeding the detection period of urine tests. This ensures that employers have a robust overview of an individual's substance use history, crucial for maintaining workplace integrity and safety.
Long-term detection offers valuable insights into an applicant's conduct.
Hair follicle drug tests provide a tamper-resistant testing method in Knox, IN, reducing the risk of sample manipulation. These tests are reliable and offer unequivocal results, assuring employers that the integrity of the sample has been maintained. This robust testing method ensures that results are beyond question, supporting fair decision-making processes and policy enforcement.
Our testing centers, spanning across Knox, IN and nationwide, offer convenient access to hair follicle testing services. Clients can enjoy a straightforward and hassle-free process, with local and national locations ensuring timely availability of testing facilities.
The simple and confidential process of ordering and receiving results in Knox, IN ensures minimal disruption to both personal and organizational routines. Our approach guarantees that privacy is maintained at all stages, from initial testing to result delivery, giving all parties involved the assurance of confidentiality while obtaining crucial information.
Competitive pricing and swift results make our hair follicle testing in Knox, IN accessible for businesses of varying sizes. The cost-effective yet efficient framework ensures organizations can plan their budgets without compromising on safety and compliance.
Fast turnaround times allow employers to quickly move forward with confidence in their hiring and management decisions.
In Knox, IN, hair follicle tests are recognized for their precision and swiftness in providing drug test results. These tests are known for their high accuracy in detecting drug use, offering reliable information for informed decision-making. Individuals and employers can trust the outcomes, obtaining a detailed understanding of substance use behavior.
Exceptional efficiency is a hallmark of hair testing, enabling quick processing without sacrificing accuracy.
By using hair follicle tests, employers in Knox, IN can enhance workplace safety and ensure compliance with drug-free policies. This method reduces legal risks attributed to substance use, supporting a secure working environment.
Peace of mind comes from knowing that the company's operations are running smoothly under well-enforced safety standards.
