Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Testing hair is now recognized as an invaluable approach for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It delivers an extended historical account of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair structure as it grows. When taken near the scalp, a hair sample can furnish an approximately 3-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the bulk of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, ancillary tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. It's prudent to utilize a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be substituted. When mentioning head hair, we imply scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory's drug test processing encompasses the steps of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This includes confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any residual data entry not covered by an electronic custody trail.
Screening offers an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it's an economical means to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive finding in Screening necessitates confirmation to be judicially admissible. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.
When a sample is flagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), presenting hair drug testing as the most intricate methodology to undertake.
A positive Screening outcome undergoes Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positives are cleansed as needed before confirmation. The total laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP's (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligns with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand, not the underlying follicle.
Superiority Over Urine Tests: Hair follicle testing in Pocahontas, IA, outshines traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection capabilities. With its ability to identify substance use over months, this method showcases unrivaled precision and reliability.
Unmatched Detection Accuracy: Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers an extensive detection range, effortlessly capturing prolonged substance usage, providing more reliable results than traditional testing methods.
Extended Detection: Hair follicle testing allows for substance use detection over a prolonged period, up to 90 days. This offers employers in Pocahontas, IA, a thorough understanding of an individual's history regarding substance use.
Comprehensive History: The long detection window provides employers with significant insights into their employees' or applicants' substance use patterns, ensuring a more informed decision-making process.
Secure and Reliable: Hair follicle tests employed in Pocahontas, IA, greatly diminish the chance of tampering. This ensures the integrity of the results, thereby providing a more trustworthy and credible evaluation.
Reduced Risk of Adulteration: The method's design inherently combats sample manipulation, elevating the reliability of results and reducing the occurrence of adulteration found in other testing forms.
Accessible Testing Services: Across Pocahontas, IA, and nationwide, hair follicle testing centers are readily accessible, offering efficient, simplified processes for individuals and businesses alike.
Nationwide Convenience: Equipped with testing centers in every major city, our services ensure that businesses and individuals have access to hassle-free testing locations nationwide.
Streamlined Process: The hair follicle testing process in Pocahontas, IA, is designed to be simple and confidential, ensuring ease of use from ordering to receiving results while safeguarding privacy.
Simplicity and Privacy: Our process is seamless and discreet, allowing individuals and businesses to undergo testing with minimal inconvenience, whilst ensuring complete confidentiality.
Competitive Pricing: Our hair follicle drug tests in Pocahontas, IA, offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, ensuring businesses of all sizes receive substantial value and reassurance.
Value and Quick Results: Our structural pricing models combined with fast, accurate results deliver both affordability and efficiency, ideal for varied business requirements.
Fast and Accurate: In Pocahontas, IA, hair follicle drug tests are known for delivering quick and precise outcomes. Whether testing for drugs, alcohol, or tailored substances, these tests ensure high accuracy and reliability, making them an essential tool for businesses needing prompt results.
Precision Combined with Speed: The efficiency of hair testing lies in its capability to detect virtually any substance with superior accuracy, providing quick and dependable results that businesses and individuals trust.
Ensuring Compliance: Using hair follicle testing ensures that businesses in Pocahontas, IA, adhere to drug-free workplace mandates. It fosters legal safety and boosts workplace security.
Employer Assurance: Compliance with drug-free policies is crucial, and by employing reliable testing methods like hair analysis, employers can maintain safety standards and minimize potential legal implications.
