Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a powerful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the strands of hair as they grow, it offers a comprehensive history of substance use. When collected close to the scalp, hair can provide a detection window for drugs and alcohol of up to roughly three months. It's simple to collect, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
To obtain an ideal sample for screening and confirmation, a 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands, comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil, is necessary to yield 100mg of hair. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or any beyond 10 panels, it is advisable to gather 150mg of hair. It’s recommended to use a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step, where a sample is processed into a lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry needed that isn't covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is the next step, providing an initial evaluation for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a cost-efficient technique to dismiss drug use in most samples, confirmation is required for a positive screen to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive result in the Screening phase, more hair will be taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though often called "hair follicle tests", the test processes the hair strand and not the hair follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hazel Green, KY? Hair testing surpasses traditional urine methods by providing superior accuracy and dependability. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing doesn't just offer immediate results; it gives a longer detection timeframe and minimizes the chances of tampering, establishing its preference in many professional settings.
The extended detection window in Hazel Green, KY, is a key advantage of hair follicle testing, allowing substance use monitoring for up to 90 days. This broader scope offers employers a detailed view of an individual's drug use history, unlike shorter-term tests, thus enhancing application processes and workforce management.
In Hazel Green, KY, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant approach, significantly mitigating the risks of sample adulteration. These tests are designed to ensure that all results derive from genuine samples, thereby providing reliable and indisputable outcomes that maintain integrity throughout the testing process.
Our widespread testing centers ensure convenient access throughout Hazel Green, KY. Offering a quick, streamlined testing experience, our nationwide presence allows hassle-free services, simplifying the testing process for individuals across diverse locations and needs.
The process of hair follicle testing in Hazel Green, KY, is crafted to be simple and confidential, from ordering to results reception. This process alleviates privacy concerns while delivering ease of use, ensuring participants' information stays protected and confidential throughout.
In Hazel Green, KY, our hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for businesses regardless of size. Competitive pricing paired with speedy results provides companies with the assurance they need without financial strain.
In Hazel Green, KY, the reliability of hair follicle testing stands out with precision and rapid processing. These tests are renowned for their elevated accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring that results are both fast and exacting. Such tests offer a robust assessment of an individual's substance history, meeting high standards of accuracy.
Employers in Hazel Green, KY, benefit from peace of mind through hair follicle testing, which supports compliance with drug-free policies. By minimizing legal risks and bolstering workplace safety, these tests seamlessly integrate into organizational frameworks to maintain a safe and compliant working environment.
