Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a prolonged history of substance exposure. Collected near the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol presence over a period of up to 3 months. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields about 100mg, which is the optimal amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is suggested for accuracy. If head hair isn't accessible, a comparable volume of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any necessary data entry absent from electronic custody systems.
Screening provides an initial assessment for unauthorized substance use. Although a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be authenticated for legal admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require subsequent confirmation.
When a sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is processed from the original specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair with significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluids), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug examinations.
The confirmation of a positive result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation where needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", only the hair strand is analyzed, not the follicle under the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Lake View, IA, outshines traditional urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities. With an extended detection period, hair tests offer a more reliable history of substance use.
The Lake View, IA community recognizes hair follicle testing for its resistance to tampering and increased accuracy compared to urine testing, making it the preferred choice.
In Lake View, IA, hair follicle tests provide an extended detection window of up to 90 days, offering employers a comprehensive review of an individual's drug use history.
This prolonged detection period ensures that hair testing in Lake View, IA, gives a thorough evaluation of potential substance misuse over time.
Lake View, IA’s hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring that test outcomes are trustworthy and indisputable.
This unyielding reliability in Lake View, IA, reinforces the integrity of hair follicle testing, making it a sound choice for accuracy and credibility.
Our widespread testing centers, including in Lake View, IA, provide convenient access to reliable testing services, making them easily accessible nationwide.
With local and nationwide facilities, residents of Lake View, IA, benefit from hassle-free and quick hair testing procedures ensuring prompt results.
Lake View, IA, offers a straightforward, confidential process for hair testing from ordering to obtaining results, addressing potential privacy concerns.
The streamlined process in Lake View, IA, ensures ease and confidentiality, making the hair follicle testing experience stress-free.
Our competitive pricing in Lake View, IA, combined with rapid turnaround times, offers excellent value, catering to businesses of varied sizes.
Lake View, IA-based companies gain affordable hair testing, experiencing swift, precise results enhancing value.
The accuracy and speed of hair follicle tests in Lake View, IA, ensure prompt and precise results. Hair testing accurately detects a wide range of substances, providing essential data efficiently.
Employers and individuals in Lake View, IA, benefit from the reliable outcomes delivered through swift processing of hair samples; results are available faster than traditional testing methods.
Employers in Lake View, IA, achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies using hair follicle testing, minimizing legal challenges while ensuring safety.
The use of hair follicle testing in Lake View, IA, not only aligns with compliance mandates but also provides peace of mind through secure, reliable, and effective screening methods.