Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now considered an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair, it offers a significant retrospective view of alcohol and other substances. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal substance usage for up to around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides about 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels above 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a drug test in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into the lab’s systems. This part features ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is an inexpensive method to exclude drug usage from most samples, a positive outcome requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows preliminary positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. In this step, drugs are sourced from hair at considerably lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.
Any positive Screening result undergoes Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptively positive samples are cleansed as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in Timken, KS by offering an extended detection timeframe and heightened reliability. Urine tests can only detect recent usage, whereas hair tests provide insights into an individual's drug use over months, thus ensuring thorough and precise evaluations.
Hair follicle drug tests in Timken, KS, provide a comprehensive view of drug history by detecting substance use for up to 90 days. This extended window is invaluable for employers investigating potential hires, ensuring they have a clear history of the applicant's substance use.
The integrity of hair follicle drug tests in Timken, KS, is exemplary due to their tamper-resistant nature. The method nearly eliminates the possibility of adulteration, thus ensuring that results remain trustworthy and objections are effectively minimized.
Our nationwide testing centers in Timken, KS, including local options, ensure convenience and ease of access. Our broad network simplifies the process, enabling quick and seamless testing for everyone, from individuals to large corporations.
Ordering and undergoing a hair follicle test in Timken, KS, is a simple and confidential process. We prioritize privacy and facilitate a hassle-free experience for our clients, ensuring quick delivery of results while maintaining discretion.
In Timken, KS, we provide affordable pricing and swift turnaround for our hair follicle tests. Our competitive rates and efficient service delivery offer excellent value, catering to companies of various sizes and requirements.
The effectiveness and dependability of hair follicle drug testing in Timken, KS is unparalleled. High speed and accuracy are the hallmarks of these tests. They identify substance use with unmatched precision, substantially improving the reliability of test results and promptness in reporting, making them invaluable for urgent needs.
For companies in Timken, KS, hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with drug-free policies. This approach minimizes legal liabilities and boosts workplace safety, offering employers peace of mind and alignment with regulatory requirements.
