Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective technique for identifying both alcohol and drug consumption. Hair offers an extensive timeline for drug and alcohol presence by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can detect alcohol and drug use for about three months. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat tamper-resistant, and effortless to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. Measuring the sample using a jeweler's scale is suggested. If scalp hair is not accessible, a proportionate amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (including facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
Four pivotal stages in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage of entering a sample into a lab’s system. This step entails confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry that isn’t available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening acts as an initial, rapid test for drug presence. While Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in the majority of cases, a positive result requires confirmation for court acceptability. Any samples with a presumptively positive result in Screening need further confirmation.
When a sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation for any positive Screening results is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is assessed using both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the testing focuses on analyzing the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Tyro, KS
Extended Detection Window in Tyro, KS
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Tyro, KS
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Tyro, KS
Simple, Confidential Process in Tyro, KS
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Tyro, KS
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Tyro, KS
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Tyro, KS