Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments are increasingly regarded as a robust means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair reveals an extended history of substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. Samples gathered near the scalp can offer up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A section of 1.5 inches comprising approximately 200 hairs (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg is advisable. A jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair is suitable. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key phases in processing a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the fundamental processing of a sample into a lab's system, which includes ensuring the sample’s seal and proper shipment, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing data not entered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial swift assessment for substance abuse. Though Screening is economical to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court validity. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
For samples that test presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The sequential process from Accessioning through Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand rather than the sub-scalp hair follicle
When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Lockport Heights, LA, hair testing shows superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer a broader detection window and are more challenging to adulterate, providing a more reliable insight into an individual's substance use history.
Hair follicle testing in Lockport Heights, LA, allows for detecting drug use over extended periods, up to 90 days. This comprehensive detection window provides employers with a clearer view of an applicant or employee's past drug use, contributing to informed hiring and retention decisions.
Hair follicle tests in Lockport Heights, LA, offer a tamper-resistant method for drug testing, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration. This integrity ensures that results are reliable and trustworthy for both employers and individuals relying on accurate assessments.
Our convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Lockport Heights, LA, make access to drug testing services hassle-free. With multiple centers, individuals can quickly get tested without long waits, making the process seamless and efficient.
In Lockport Heights, LA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to respect privacy and offer ease of use, catering to concerns regarding confidentiality and simplicity.
Lockport Heights, LA, benefits from Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround times for hair follicle tests, offering excellent value to companies of any size. Our competitive pricing and rapid results ensure that businesses get high-quality testing services without breaking the bank.
Hair follicle drug tests in Lockport Heights, LA, are renowned for their precision and expediency, offering high accuracy in detecting substance use. This testing method ensures rapid and reliable results, making it an ideal choice for those needing fast and accurate assessments of drug use.
Employers in Lockport Heights, LA, benefit from hair follicle testing as it ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal risks and fosters a safer working environment, giving employers peace of mind and promoting a healthy workplace culture.