Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a long-lasting record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of nearly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding ten, a recommendation of 150mg is made. It is advised to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary phases in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning signifies the initial phase of processing a sample within a laboratory’s system. This phase involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes a preliminary rapid assessment for abuse substances. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples indicating presumptive positive during Screening must undergo further confirmation.
For samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly reduced concentrations versus other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug analysis is the most challenging process to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive outcomes are appropriately cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine testing by offering superior accuracy and reliability in Mayfield, KY. Unlike urine tests, hair testing evaluates a longer history of substance use, providing a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's habits.
The inability to tamper with hair samples further enhances trust in the outcomes, making it an ideal option for businesses and legal institutions seeking certainty.
Hair follicle testing in Mayfield, KY, uncovers substance use over an extended period, up to 90 days, giving employers a detailed view of a person’s consumption history. This prolonged detection window proves invaluable in assessing long-term patterns rather than recent use.
Employers can therefore make more informed evaluations about potential hires or existing employees, based on comprehensive insights into their substance history.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Mayfield, KY, significantly limits the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring results remain trustworthy and indisputable. Hair samples are hard to manipulate without detection, providing reliability in high-stakes environments.
This characteristic makes hair testing an exemplary choice for employers and law enforcement interested in maintaining integrity in drug testing outcomes.
With convenient nationwide centers, including accommodating facilities in Mayfield, KY, hair follicle testing is accessible and hassle-free. This broad availability ensures individuals and employers can easily access testing services without delays.
Our strategically located facilities streamline the testing process, allowing for quick turnarounds and efficient service provision, integral for maintaining business operations seamlessly.
In Mayfield, KY, the straightforward and confidential procedure of hair follicle testing addresses privacy concerns while being user-friendly. Customers can easily order tests, participate in the sampling process, and receive results securely and privately.
This simplicity, coupled with confidentiality, makes the process stress-free, catering to individual and corporate concerns alike, ensuring everyone’s privacy and comfort.
Accredited Drug Testing offers hair follicle testing in Mayfield, KY, at competitive rates with swift result turnaround. Our pricing structure is designed to deliver excellent value regardless of company size, aligning affordability with quality service.
Fast processing speeds combined with economic pricing solidify our position as a reliable partner for organizations seeking cost-effective testing solutions without compromising on performance.
In Mayfield, KY, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and timeliness, offering accurate identification of substance use. These tests leverage advanced techniques that ensure dependable results, minimizing errors commonly associated with traditional methods.
Rapid completion of hair testing means individuals receive swift feedback, allowing for quicker decision-making by employers or other authorities. This efficiency is coupled with thorough accuracy, fostering trust in the results.
Employers in Mayfield, KY, find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, which aligns with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks, and enhancing safety standards. By confidently integrating these tests, organizations maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
This strategic approach ensures both organizational reputation and operational safety, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders involved.