Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. If taken near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug use over a period of up to roughly 90 days. It is straightforward to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment containing around 200 hairs (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) from the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is considered the optimal sample for analysis. For EtG, additional procedures, or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If no scalp hair is available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (such as facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The four primary phases of laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning represents the initial incorporation of a sample within a lab’s system. This entails confirming the sample's sealing and proper shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data not provided via an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient approach to excluding drug use in most cases, a positive screen must be corroborated to be legally valid. Samples that screen positive require subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than other techniques (such as urine or saliva), making hair drug testing more complex to conduct.
The Confirmation step for any positive screen result uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily tested positive undergo appropriate washing before confirmation. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Riverside, IA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing for reliability and accuracy. Hair tests offer a more comprehensive detection rate, ensuring a broader understanding of substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Riverside, IA offers an extended drug detection period of up to 90 days. This allows employers to discern a complete substance use history of applicants or employees.
Hair follicle testing in Riverside, IA is resistant to tampering, reducing the risk of sample adulteration. This assures businesses of credible and trustworthy test results.
In Riverside, IA, the broad network of testing centers makes hair follicle testing convenient. Nationwide, quick, and hassle-free access is guaranteed.
The hair follicle testing process in Riverside, IA is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease from ordering to receiving results.
Riverside, IA offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle testing, providing excellent value for businesses of all sizes.
The hair follicle drug test in Riverside, IA is renowned for its speed and precision, delivering fast and reliable outcomes. This test's high accuracy ensures that even trace amounts of substances are detected, providing peace of mind.
Employers in Riverside, IA gain peace of mind through hair follicle tests, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies and minimizing legal risks while boosting safety.
