Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly acknowledged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can detect alcohol and drugs over a period of up to roughly 90 days. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmatory tests. For EtG and additional testing of more than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be obtained. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary stages in the lab handling of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is initially logged into the laboratory’s system. This stage involves confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and resolving any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient way to exclude drug usage on the majority of samples, a confirmed positive is required for court acceptance. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
For a sample testing presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower density than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation performs as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure is subjected to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Crescent, LA, offers an edge over conventional urine testing. Its superiority lies in its comprehensive drug detection accuracy and reliability, which is unmatched by more traditional methods.
Employers in Crescent, LA, benefit from using hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window, revealing drug use over an extended period of up to three months.
Hair follicle tests greatly reduce sample tampering risks, offering reliable results in Crescent, LA. The test's integrity and tamper-resistant nature ensure trustworthy outcomes.
Convenience is key with our extensive network of testing facilities, including Crescent, LA. Our nationwide locations assure ease of access, facilitating a seamless process.
Ordering, performing, and receiving hair follicle test results in Crescent, LA, is a simple and confidential process. Emphasis on privacy and ease of use addresses client concerns.
In Crescent, LA, our hair follicle testing services feature affordable pricing coupled with rapid result delivery. These aspects promise excellent value and peace of mind for all business scales.
In Crescent, LA, hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. The method's precision in detecting substances ensures an accurate assessment of drug use, distinguishing it from traditional testing methods.
By adopting hair follicle testing in Crescent, LA, employers ensure compliance with drug-free policies, lowering legal implications and boosting workplace safety.
