Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by encasing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A segment measuring 1.5 inches and approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types like facial or axillary.
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s database. This step involves checking that the sample has been correctly sealed and sent, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any data entry missing from an electronic custody chain system.
Screening acts as a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient in negating drug use across many samples, a positive screen must be validated for it to be legally acceptable. Any samples marked as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is marked presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", these actually assess the hair strands, not the follicles under the scalp.
In Orient, IA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy. The detailed results leave little room for error, ensuring a reliable evaluation of drug use.
The extended detection window of hair tests gives them an edge over traditional urine tests, making them invaluable for thorough drug screenings.
Hair follicle testing in Orient, IA, provides a wider detection window, revealing drug use over up to 90 days. This makes it a vital tool for assessing an individual's long-term substance history.
The ability to view substance use over several months offers employers a more comprehensive perspective, aiding in informed decision-making.
In Orient, IA, hair follicle testing offers a largely tamper-resistant method, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration and ensuring reliable results.
Employers and individuals can trust in the integrity of hair tests, as they provide outcomes that are difficult to manipulate or falsify.
With testing locations spread nationwide, including Orient, IA, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and ensures a hassle-free experience.
Whether local or across the country, our testing centers provide quick and easy access, accommodating various client needs efficiently.
Ordering and conducting hair follicle tests in Orient, IA, is a straightforward and confidential process, addressing privacy concerns effectively.
Clients can rely on the simplicity and confidentiality of our procedures, ensuring ease of use from ordering to result reception.
In Orient, IA, we pride ourselves on our affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, offering excellent value and assurance to businesses of all sizes.
The competitive pricing structures and efficient service deliver peace of mind, underscoring cost-effectiveness in meeting drug testing needs.
Hair follicle drug tests in Orient, IA, offer fast and accurate results, making them an ideal choice. Their high precision in detecting substance use ensures reliability in the outcomes.
Ensuring timely results is paramount in drug testing, and hair follicle tests meet this need with their efficiency, providing swift, dependable findings for employers and individuals alike.
For businesses in Orient, IA, hair follicle testing promotes compliance with drug-free policies, offering a safer and legally secure workplace environment.
Choosing hair follicle tests helps employers reduce legal risks and enhance workplace safety, providing peace of mind through proven practices.
