Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can deliver up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 strands of hair (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a drug test result in a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This comprises verifying that the sample was sealed and dispatched properly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening pertains to an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-effective technique to eliminate drug usage for most samples; however, a positive screen must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Wheelwright, KY provides superior accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. This method’s enhanced detection capabilities ensure more trustworthy results, outstripping urine tests which have shorter detection windows and are susceptible to manipulation.
The precision of hair testing outshines urine testing by delivering comprehensive insights into an individual's drug use history, making it invaluable for employers and institutions requiring stringent drug policies.
In Wheelwright, KY, hair follicle testing offers an exceptional detection window of up to 90 days. This expansive timeframe allows employers to thoroughly assess an individual’s substance use history, proving its effectiveness over other testing methods.
Employing long-term detection, this method provides a fuller picture of an individual's drug consumption patterns, greatly assisting in maintaining a safe and compliant workplace environment.
Hair follicle tests in Wheelwright, KY are inherently resistant to tampering. This feature significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, yielding results that are reliable and difficult to challenge, offering substantial reassurance to employers.
The observed collection process ensures the integrity of samples, making hair tests a favored choice where authenticity of results is paramount and manipulation is a concern.
Convenience is key with numerous accredited testing locations available nationally and locally in Wheelwright, KY. Service is quick and accessible, ensuring prompt testing that is stress-free and convenient, meeting the demands of clients across diverse geographical areas.
Our expansive reach means clients benefit from a comprehensive network of testing sites, ensuring efficient service delivery and minimal downtime in the testing process.
The hair follicle testing process in Wheelwright, KY is straightforward and confidential, safeguarding privacy while ensuring ease of testing and receiving results. It addresses any privacy concerns clients may have with a simple, discreet approach.
Anonymity and simplicity are prioritized, ensuring that clients can confidently proceed through the testing phases without concerns over data protection or procedural complexity.
In Wheelwright, KY, our competitive pricing structures make hair follicle testing an affordable choice for businesses of all sizes. Coupled with fast turnaround, it delivers excellent value and peace of mind, ensuring cost-effectiveness without sacrificing quality.
Affordable pricing paired with swift results strengthens our service offerings, making reliable drug testing accessible to all, from small businesses to large corporations.
In Wheelwright, KY, hair follicle drug tests stand out as a fast and precise drug screening option. Their accuracy is unparalleled, quickly identifying substance use, ensuring effective and reliable results in a short turnaround time, providing clients with peace of mind.
These tests boast a meticulous accuracy level, adequately covering a broad spectrum of substances. The swift results enhance decision-making efficiency for entities seeking dependable drug testing solutions.
Using hair follicle testing in Wheelwright, KY assures employers of compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities. It fosters a secure work environment, enhancing employee safety and peace of mind through reliable substance use monitoring.
This dependable method supports regulatory adherence and demonstrates a proactive approach to workplace safety by virtually eliminating the likelihood of non-compliance related issues.