Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. This method offers a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can capture up to a three-month period of substance use. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy for transport purposes.
A 1.5-inch segment with roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable mass of body hair may be collected. When discussing head hair, it specifically indicates scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types, including facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
There are four primary phases in the laboratory analysis of a drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves verifying that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial, swift evaluation for drug presence. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to dismiss drug presence in most samples, results showing drug presence must undergo confirmation to be valid in judicial settings. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening require additional confirmation.
If a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. This involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other sources (such as urine or oral fluid), underlining the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples suspected of being positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligns with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Barnes City, IA, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. Superb detection accuracy and consistency stand out, providing many benefits such as:
The extended detection window with hair follicle testing in Barnes City, IA, allows for insight into drug use over up to 90 days.
Hair follicle testing in Barnes City, IA, is a tamper-resistant method that lowers the risk of sample adulteration significantly.
With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local access in Barnes City, IA, our services are easily accessible.
In Barnes City, IA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential.
Our hair follicle testing in Barnes City, IA, offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround times.
The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Barnes City, IA, is unmatched. Accuracy and speed go hand in hand with these tests, ensuring reliable results.
Employers in Barnes City, IA, can find compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing.
