Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term evidence of drug use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair samples can reveal alcohol and drug use over approximately a 3-month period. The collection process is straightforward, it's challenging to tamper with, and shipping is hassle-free.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, which is the preferred sample size for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10-panel tests, 150mg of hair is recommended. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a corresponding amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in processing a drug test in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary stage of entering a sample into the laboratory's workflow. This step involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data that wasn’t electronically provided.
Screening conducts an initial assessment for potential drug usage. While it's a budget-friendly means to exclude drug use in most cases, a positive screening must be validated to be legal. Samples with presumptive positives from Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
Should the Screening process yield a presumptive positive result, additional hair is sourced from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which underscores why hair drug testing is quite complex.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes rigorous review aligned with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test targets the hair strand itself and not the follicle below the scalp.
In Bullittsville, KY, the benefits of hair testing clearly surpass those of traditional urine tests. Hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy and extended drug detection timelines, making it a preferred choice. Its reliability in results ensures that the detection goes beyond mere recent usage, offering insights into historical patterns of substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Bullittsville, KY, provides an extended detection window, revealing substance usage up to 90 days back. This thorough examination gives employers a reliable, in-depth perspective of a potential or current employee's substance use history, proving invaluable in assessing long-term behavior rather than just recent actions.
Hair follicle testing in Bullittsville, KY, offers a high degree of resistance to tampering. By reducing the chances of sample adulteration, this method ensures results that are both reliable and valid, providing an extra layer of security and authenticity in drug testing procedures, thus maintaining the integrity of the process.
With testing locations scattered nationwide and conveniently situated in Bullittsville, KY, accessing hair drug testing services is quick and straightforward. This vast network of centers ensures that individuals and businesses can easily obtain the services they need without facing logistical hurdles, enhancing the client experience.
The straightforward and confidential process of hair follicle testing in Bullittsville, KY, ensures privacy and ease at every step. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure is designed to be user-friendly, addressing any concerns regarding privacy and ensuring a seamless experience for those undergoing testing.
Our competitive pricing and speedy turnaround times in Bullittsville, KY, are tailored to offer great value to businesses, large or small. The efficient service delivery ensures a seamless process from testing to results, making it a cost-effective solution for all testing needs without compromising on quality or reliability.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing stand out in Bullittsville, KY. These tests are renowned for their high accuracy in detecting a wide range of substances. The efficient processing ensures results are delivered faster, helping individuals and organizations make informed decisions without unnecessary delays. Their reliability ensures peace of mind and robust results every time.
In Bullittsville, KY, hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, ensuring compliance and offering peace of mind to employers. The reduction of legal risks and promotion of safety standards presents a significant advantage to companies seeking to uphold rigorous safety and compliance procedures in their work environment.