Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a historical record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strands. When obtained from near the scalp, hair samples can reveal up to a 3-month period of drug and alcohol use. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprised of around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. Reference to head hair pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug tests encompasses four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is entered into a lab’s system. This involves verifying the integrity and proper shipment of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry gaps not addressed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts an initial drug abuse assessment. While it serves as a budget-friendly means to eliminate drug use in most samples, legal admissibility requires positive screens to undergo Confirmation. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening must proceed to secondary confirmation.
A presumptively positive sample from Screening necessitates further hair extraction from the original specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drug components are extracted from hair in significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug testing.
Confirmation of any positive screen is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. Samples marked positive presumptively are washed as needed before confirmation. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and adheres to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests," the procedure evaluates the hair strands themselves, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in New Albany, IN offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. One key benefit is the improved detection accuracy and reliability, which provides results that are both consistent and dependable.
While urine tests can detect recent drug use, hair testing excels at identifying substance use over a prolonged period, ensuring a comprehensive and trustable evaluation, significantly enhancing the testing process.
In New Albany, IN, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, allowing for a detailed review of drug use for up to 90 days. This surpasses the limited timeframe offered by other testing methods.
Employers gain valuable insights into an individual's substance history, which is crucial when assessing potential hires or conducting routine employee evaluations, allowing for better-informed decisions.
Hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant method in New Albany, IN, significantly mitigating the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures that results obtained are both reliable and legitimate.
The robust nature of this testing method makes it nearly impossible to alter samples, providing a credible safeguard against attempts to manipulate outcomes, thereby preserving the integrity of the testing process.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including New Albany, IN, providing easy access to our comprehensive services.
The availability of local and national centers ensures clients experience fast, hassle-free testing processes. This network of facilities supports prompt service delivery, meeting the needs of individuals and organizations efficiently.
Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the drug testing process in New Albany, IN, ensuring a confidential and straightforward experience. Clients can order, take tests, and receive results with ease.
Privacy and user-friendliness remain a priority, assuring customers that their information is secure and the overall process is seamless, building confidence in the testing journey.
In New Albany, IN, Accredited Drug Testing provides competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, combined with quick turnaround times, delivering exceptional value.
Companies of varying sizes can benefit from affordable testing without compromising speed and accuracy, allowing them to strengthen their workplace compliance and drug-free initiatives effectively.
The hair follicle drug test stands out for its quick and accurate results in New Albany, IN. Its precision in detecting various substances ensures high reliability, making it the optimal choice for individuals and organizations seeking rapid and dependable testing outcomes.
With Accredited Drug Testing, you benefit from a process that pinpoints substance use with remarkable accuracy. This assures users of the reliability of the outcomes, providing the confidence needed to make informed decisions swiftly.
Using hair follicle testing for workplace drug-free policy compliance in New Albany, IN ensures peace of mind for employers. This method minimizes legal risks and enhances safety.
By providing accurate and reliable assessments, employers can uphold their zero-tolerance policies more effectively, fostering a safer work environment while maintaining trust and transparency with employees.
