Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair maintains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When acquired near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and drug traces. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is uncomplicated.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparative to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for both initial and confirming analyses. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of sample is advised. We propose utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, an equal quantity of body hair can be taken. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The quartet of primary steps in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the introductory processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening serves as an economical approach to exclude drug usage in the majority of specimens, a positive screen must undergo confirmation for legal acceptance. Any specimens provisionally positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
Should a specimen be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted at a notably lower concentration from hair than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring hair drug analysis as the most intricate procedure.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all provisionally positive specimens undergo washing as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Pros of hair drug analysis:
Drawbacks:
Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis scrutinizes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cherryvale, KS
Extended Detection Window in Cherryvale, KS
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cherryvale, KS
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