Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Testing hair has emerged as a robust method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a protracted record of alcohol or drug usage by encasing biomarkers within the hair's fibrous structure as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, the hair can reveal a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.
An ideal sample comprises a 1.5-inch specimen of approximately 200 strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) taken from the scalp, yielding 100mg for testing purposes. For assays like EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding ten, a recommendation of 150mg is suggested. It’s advisable to measure the sample with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, body hair in similar quantity can be utilized. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" pertains to other types (including facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test results from a laboratory are processed through four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the process of entering the sample into a lab’s system. This step checks if the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any data entry that an electronic chain of custody might lack.
Screening is the initial phase to quickly verify drug presence. Although Screening is efficient for excluding drug use in most cases, a confirmed positive screen is essential for it to be legally permissible. Presumptive positive samples from Screening must undergo secondary validation.
Upon a presumptive positive result at the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Drugs within hair are extracted at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or saliva); hence, hair drug testing is famously complex.
Positive screening results are validated via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The entire process, starting from Accessioning to Confirmation, is carried out under the CAP's (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards alongside ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", these evaluations analyse the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers clear advantages over traditional urine tests in Curlew, IA, primarily due to more precise and dependable detection. Advantages include:
In Curlew, IA, hair follicle testing is valued for its ability to trace drug use over longer durations, up to 90 days. This method provides:
Hair follicle tests in Curlew, IA, are robust against tampering, ensuring authentic results. The integrity of the method lies in:
Finding a convenient drug testing site is seamless in Curlew, IA, with widespread centers across the nation. This offers:
In Curlew, IA, the hair follicle testing process remains straightforward and discreet. Key features include:
Competitive pricing and swift results make hair follicle tests in Curlew, IA a superior choice. Highlights include:
The speed and precision offered by hair follicle testing in Curlew, IA are unmatched. Key benefits include:
Implementing hair follicle testing in Curlew, IA offers employers peace of mind by ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace standards. The advantages encompass:
