Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a crucial method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can reveal a prolonged historical record of drugs and alcohol use through the entrapment of biomarkers in its fibers. When taken from near the scalp, it offers a detection timeframe of up to about three months for drugs and alcohol. The collection process is easy, it is moderately hard to tamper with, and it is straightforward to transport.
A sample length of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) from areas nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair—an optimal quantity for examination and validation. For EtG tests, add-ons, or testing of over 10 panels, a specimen mass of 150mg is advisable. Measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale is recommended. In cases where scalp hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. All other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.) are defined as body hair.
Process Overview
The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the sample's initial integration into a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is assigned, and any supplementary data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system is recorded.
Screening offers an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for it to stand in a legal setting. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
For any sample that tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the primary specimen and readied for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly reduced concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the intricacies of hair drug analysis.
Confirmation of any positive result from screening is executed with techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positivity are cleaned prior to confirmation as required. The overall laboratory workflow—from Accessioning through Confirmation—undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Tests often dubbed as "hair follicle tests" actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine testing in Saint Joseph, IN, the benefits shine brightly. Hair tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability.
In Saint Joseph, IN, hair follicle testing is renowned for its extended detection window. This method traces drug usage up to 90 days, offering employers a broader perspective on a candidate's or employee's past substance activities.
Hair follicle tests in Saint Joseph, IN stand out as a tamper-resistant testing option, greatly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration and ensuring trustworthy results.
Our comprehensive network of testing centers nationwide, including Saint Joseph, IN, ensures unmatched convenience in accessing drug testing services.
The process of hair testing in Saint Joseph, IN is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are streamlined to alleviate privacy concerns and ensure ease of use.
In Saint Joseph, IN, hair follicle testing is not only precise but also affordable, providing rapid results and significant value for companies of any size.
The precision and expediency of hair follicle drug testing in Saint Joseph, IN are unmatched. This testing method ensures fast, reliable, and accurate results, elegantly detecting substance presence with high accuracy.
For Saint Joseph, IN employers, using hair follicle testing provides compliance and peace of mind. Implementing this testing method guarantees adherence to drug-free policies, protecting against legal issues and enhancing safety in the workplace.
