Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a repository of alcohol and drug history by embedding biomarkers within the growing strand's fibers. When collected from the scalp, hair can reveal use of alcohol and drugs over an approximate span of 3 months. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) from the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, equivalent body hair can be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is integrated into a laboratory system. This step confirms the sample was securely sealed and shipped, assigns it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides a preliminary check for drug presence. While cost-efficient for clearing most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admission. Presumptive positive samples in Screening mandate secondary confirmation.
In cases of a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair from the original sample is prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, which makes hair drug screening the most challenging to perform.
Confirmation for any positive Screening is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Upper Clover, KY, surpasses traditional urine tests in effectiveness. Hair tests offer superior accuracy and reliability, becoming a preferred choice.
Hair follicle testing in Upper Clover, KY, showcases an extended detection window, identifying substance use over a prolonged 90-day period, providing a thorough assessment.
In Upper Clover, KY, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests greatly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring dependable results.
The widespread testing centers nationwide, including those in Upper Clover, KY, offer convenient access to essential hair follicle drug testing services.
Upper Clover, KY's hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, prioritizing users' privacy and ease of use during ordering and result retrieval.
In Upper Clover, KY, competitive pricing and quick turnaround times ensure hair follicle testing is a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes.
In Upper Clover, KY, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and dependable results. They stand out for their precision in detecting drug use, offering high accuracy.
Upper Clover, KY businesses gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing, safeguarding drug-free policies and enhancing workplace safety.
