Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol intake. The hair captures a comprehensive timeline of substances such as alcohol by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. If collected from near the scalp, hair testing offers up to a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair samples are easy to acquire, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
An ideal sample consists of a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 strands of hair (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, amounting to 100mg, suitable for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It is advisable to measure the sample weight using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types such as facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The drug testing procedure in a laboratory comprises four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the commencement of processing a sample into the laboratory’s system. It involves checking the integrity and proper shipment of the sample, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening constitutes a preliminary assessment for illicit substances. While it is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in most cases, a positive screen mandates confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.
In instances of a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. This phase involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations in comparison to methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive findings from Screening is completed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as needed. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often dubbed "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand itself, not the underlying hair follicle.
In Minden, LA, hair follicle testing is preferred due to its superior benefits over traditional urine testing.
Hair follicle testing in Minden, LA offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe provides employers with a detailed history of an individual's substance use, enhancing their ability to make informed hiring or monitoring decisions. This comprehensive view allows for better evaluation of an employee's or applicant's drug use behavior over a significant period.
Hair follicle tests in Minden, LA exemplify a tamper-resistant testing approach. The risk of sample adulteration is significantly lowered compared to urine or other specimen forms. This reliability ensures the integrity of the test, offering unquestionable results that reinforce trust in the testing process, ultimately meeting the requirements for court, employment, and personal testing needs.
With the presence of convenient nationwide testing centers and accessible local locations in Minden, LA, getting a hair follicle test is hassle-free.
In Minden, LA, the hair follicle testing process remains simple and confidential. Ordering a test, conducting it, and accessing results is streamlined to prioritize user privacy and ease.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Minden, LA provides excellent value for businesses of any size.
A key aspect of hair follicle drug testing in Minden, LA is its ability to deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method surpasses others in detecting substance usage with unparalleled precision, helping stakeholders make informed decisions. Speedy processing times contribute to efficient detection and reporting, aiding both employers and individuals in achieving compliance and peace of mind.
For employers in Minden, LA, hair follicle testing ensures regulatory compliance and peace of mind. This testing method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety.
