Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests have gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair, this method offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use. A sample taken near the scalp can reveal drug use over a period of up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, altering it is quite challenging, and shipping is convenient.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) taken from near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's recommended to use a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. The reference to head hair specifically means scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Overview of the Process
The drug test result lab processing comprises four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial processing of a specimen within the lab's system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry that might not be covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a quick preliminary check for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally admissible. Any samples that are preliminarily positive during Screening need a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample test positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction processing. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most arduous methodology to implement.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques conduct the confirmation of any positive screening result. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is carried out under the oversight of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Important: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests," the examination actually involves the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing testing methods in Coteau Holmes, LA, hair follicle testing often surpasses urine tests due to superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests provide a broader detection window, unveiling substance use over more extended periods than urine tests.
Employers and organizations benefit from hair testing's enhanced precision, reducing the likelihood of false negatives and increasing confidence in maintaining a drug-free environment.
Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, giving employers in Coteau Holmes, LA, a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. This method surpasses the traditional testing periods, providing long-term insight into drug use.
This extended window is crucial for employers who need to assess the long-standing habits of potential or current employees, ensuring informed decisions in hiring or continuing employment.
Hair follicle tests are notably tamper-resistant, significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. This quality makes it a preferred choice in Coteau Holmes, LA, ensuring results are both reliable and credible.
Unlike other testing methods, the structure of hair samples makes them nearly impossible to falsify, providing results that employers and judicial systems can trust wholeheartedly.
Coteau Holmes, LA, benefits from a network of convenient nationwide testing centers, ensuring quick and accessible hair follicle drug testing services. This network facilitates easy and hassle-free access to required tests.
Local and nationwide reach ensures that organizations can promptly address their testing needs without unnecessary delays, enhancing convenience for all users.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair follicle testing in Coteau Holmes, LA, is marked by simplicity and confidentiality. This straightforward process addresses privacy concerns, offering a discreet testing experience.
Individuals and companies can easily navigate the hair testing procedure, ensuring both ease of use and protection of sensitive information throughout the testing journey.
In Coteau Holmes, LA, our hair follicle testing services are characterized by affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. Companies receive excellent value through competitive pricing structures and prompt results.
This efficiency in service delivery ensures that businesses of all sizes have access to reliable drug testing without stretching their budgets, enhancing overall satisfaction.
In Coteau Holmes, LA, hair follicle drug testing is recognized for its fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of these tests ensures that substance use can be effectively detected, giving results a high level of credibility.
The expediency of hair follicle drug tests makes them an excellent choice for situations requiring rapid results, with advances in technology ensuring accuracy is uncompromised even as speed increases.
In Coteau Holmes, LA, utilizing hair follicle testing aids employers in ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This method reduces legal risks while enhancing workplace safety.
Employers gain peace of mind through hair testing, knowing that they adhere to regulations and foster a safer, more productive work environment.
