Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, is needed to obtain 100mg, which is optimal for both initial testing and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be taken. ‘Head hair’ refers specifically to scalp hair, while ‘body hair’ encompasses all other variations (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The lab workflow for processing a drug test involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step confirms the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any lacking data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening performs a preliminary assessment for the presence of drugs. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use possibilities for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples suspected to be positive during Screening are subjected to further verification.
Should a sample test positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the remaining sample and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), thus rendering hair drug analysis one of the most complex techniques to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screen result utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All presumed positive samples undergo a washing procedure before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is carefully examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and meets the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Clive, IA, stands out for its superior detection capability compared to urine tests. Hair tests boast accuracy and reliability that make them the preferred choice for many.
Benefits Over Urine Testing:
In Clive, IA, one significant advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window. It captures drug use over a prolonged period, typically up to 90 days, granting employers a more detailed understanding of an individual's substance use history.
Extended Detection Highlights:
Hair follicle tests in Clive, IA, offer a tamper-resistant solution, ensuring authenticity in test results. With reduced risks of adulteration, the results are reliable and trustworthy for every stakeholder.
Testing Assurance Features:
With convenient testing centers nationwide, including Clive, IA, accessing hair follicle testing is effortless. Our widespread locations ensure a seamless experience for all your testing requirements.
Location Benefits:
In Clive, IA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy throughout. From ordering to result retrieval, the process caters to ease of use and confidentiality concerns.
Simplified Process:
Offering competitive pricing, Clive, IA, provides affordable hair follicle testing with fast turnaround times. This ensures cost-effective solutions suited for businesses of any size.
Cost-Effective Features:
In Clive, IA, hair follicle drug tests provide timely and reliable results, ensuring high recognition precision in detecting substance use. This method offers accurate assessments and leads to confident decision-making for employers and authorities alike.
Key Advantages:
Adopting hair follicle testing in Clive, IA, provides peace of mind for employers, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal implications while maintaining a safe environment.
Peace of Mind Justifications:
