Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol consumption within roughly a three-month period. This method is straightforward to perform, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken from closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for initial testing and subsequent validation. For EtG, additional analyses, or testing exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (such as facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result processing in a lab is divided into four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a specimen in a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was securely sealed and correctly transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data input not handled by an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening signifies an initial swift analysis for drugs of concern. Although Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in the majority of samples, to be legally defendable, a positive result needs to be validated. Any samples preliminarily identified as positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.
In cases where a sample tests preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and set up for Extraction. At this phase, substances are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex method to execute.
The Confirmation of any preliminary positive result involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples flagged as presumptively positive are cleansed prior to Confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated following the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Crestview Hills, KY, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests. Unmatched Detection Accuracy: Hair tests provide superior precision.
A notable advantage of hair follicle tests in Crestview Hills, KY, is their extended detection window. Comprehensive Substance History: Hair testing charts substance use over significant periods:
Hair follicle tests in Crestview Hills, KY, serve as a tamper-resistant testing method. Reliability and Authenticity: Such tests considerably limit sample adulteration risks
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations in Crestview Hills, KY. Nationwide Accessibility: Enjoy easy and straightforward access to testing.
In Crestview Hills, KY, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Privacy Focus: We maintain privacy throughout.
Affordable pricing and swift turnaround are key benefits of our services in Crestview Hills, KY. Cost-Effectiveness: We offer competitive rates.
The accuracy and quick results of hair follicle drug tests in Crestview Hills, KY, set them apart in substance detection. Precision and Speed: Hair tests are known for their exactitude in identifying drug and alcohol use with remarkable efficiency.
Employers in Crestview Hills, KY, gain compliance and peace of mind from hair follicle testing. Workplace Safety: This testing method ensures adherence to drug-free policies.
