Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers, hair offers a retrospective view of drug and alcohol use over an extended period. When sampled near the scalp, hair can provide detection insights for up to approximately three months for both alcohol and other substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analytes, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg is made. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is advised. Should scalp hair not be available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be substituted. References to head hair indicate scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair pertains to any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning denotes the initial induction of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. Tasks include ensuring proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any additional data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening refers to an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse substances. Though Screening is an economical method to rule out drug presence in most samples, a definitive court-admissible result requires confirmation from a positive screen. Presumptive positive samples in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.
Should a Screening stage indicate presumptive positivity, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are drawn out from hair at significantly lower levels than other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), positioning hair drug screening as the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, as required. The whole laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle to urine tests in Livingston, LA, hair testing emerges as the superior method. It offers better detection accuracy and stability.
Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests provide a longer look-back period for substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Livingston, LA, allows for comprehensive detection of drug use over extended periods, up to 90 days. This gives employers a deeper understanding of an employee's or candidate's substance use.
Hair follicle tests in Livingston, LA are a force against tampering. This method of testing significantly lowers the risk of sample adulteration, offering reliable and unquestionable results.
With numerous testing centers nationwide and locally in Livingston, LA, convenience in accessing testing services is assured. This network enables swift and straightforward testing procedures.
In Livingston, LA, ordering and taking a hair follicle test is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy from start to finish.
The process is aimed at providing ease of use and secure handling of personal information.
Accessible pricing and quick turnaround times characterize drug testing services in Livingston, LA.
This ensures businesses receive excellent value and quick feedback for their testing needs.
The precision and efficiency of hair follicle drug tests in Livingston, LA, ensure fast and reliable results. These tests boast exceptional accuracy in identifying substance use, allowing testers to detect and respond swiftly to drug and alcohol misuse.
Employers in Livingston, LA benefit from hair follicle testing to align with drug-free policies. This testing method reduces legal liabilities and promotes workplace safety.
