Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Seen as an effective method, hair testing is valuable for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by holding biomarkers within its strands. When cut near the scalp, hair offers an approximate three-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, perfect for screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/or those exceeding ten panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair covers other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main phases in processing a drug test in a laboratory involve Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step of incorporating a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was aptly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in supplementary data that may not be present in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs a swift check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening offers a budget-friendly means to rule out drug use for most samples, positive results require confirmation for court acceptability. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
Should the Screening step indicate a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair in far lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening notably challenging.
Any positive outcome from Screening is verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives undergo a wash before confirmation as needed. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory process is conducted under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Pros of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing stands out over urine testing in Bird City, KS for several reasons. Primarily, it offers superior detection accuracy, and higher reliability. While urine tests provide immediate results, hair testing's extended detection significantly benefits employers needing in-depth substance use analysis.
Hair follicle tests in Bird City, KS provide an extensive detection window that spans up to 90 days. This empowers employers to gain a detailed understanding of a candidate or employee's substance use history, offering a more comprehensive view than shorter-term testing methods.
One of the notable advantages of hair follicle tests in Bird City, KS is their highly tamper-resistant nature. These tests drastically reduce the likelihood of sample adulteration, ensuring results that are trustworthy and indisputable.
Bird City, KS benefits from the convenience of our nationwide and local testing centers. This ensures that drug-testing services remain accessible and straightforward, offering quick and easy testing experiences for all involved parties with minimal inconvenience.
The hair follicle testing process in Bird City, KS is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the focus remains on ensuring privacy and ease. This approach addresses common concerns about confidentiality while maintaining a user-friendly experience.
In Bird City, KS, our hair follicle testing services boast competitive pricing and swift turnaround times. This combination of affordability and efficiency delivers significant value, ensuring companies of all sizes have access to reliable testing practices without financial strain.
In Bird City, KS, hair follicle drug testing is recognized for its impressive precision and speed. Such tests swiftly detect substances, offering an unparalleled level of accuracy. This makes them optimal for providing clear results, eliminating doubt about substance use in a timely manner.
Employers in Bird City, KS find peace of mind with hair follicle testing as it supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances overall workplace safety. It's a proactive step for managing employee substance issues.
