Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has earned recognition as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol intake. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of developing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair may reveal a detection span of nearly three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward; it is relatively hard to tamper with and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is missing, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The four primary steps in laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial procedure of inputting a sample into a laboratory system. This entails checking that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any additional data not furnished by an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening undertakes a preliminary fast assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples exhibiting presumptive positive results in Screening need a follow-up confirmation.
When Screening yields a presumptive positive, further hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug testing is a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any screening positive is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why is hair follicle testing superior to urine tests in Latonia Lakes, KY? Hair testing offers multiple advantages over traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle testing in Latonia Lakes, KY, covers drug use detection for up to 90 days. This long window offers a thorough overview of an individual's history, proving highly useful for definitive assessments. In various professional settings, such prolonged detection ensures fraud-free results, enhancing an employer’s ability to make informed decisions based on comprehensive data.
The resilient nature of hair follicle tests greatly minimizes risk of sample manipulations in Latonia Lakes, KY.
Convenience is paramount with our nationwide and local test centers, including those in Latonia Lakes, KY.
Ease and confidentiality characterize our hair follicle testing process in Latonia Lakes, KY.
Affordable and Quick: Our hair follicle testing in Latonia Lakes, KY offers competitive pricing and swift results.
In Latonia Lakes, KY, hair follicle tests are known for their fast, accurate outcomes. Their superior precision in detecting substance use makes them a preferred option.
Hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind for employers in Latonia Lakes, KY. It supports adherence to workplace drug policies, aiding in legal compliance.
