Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Utilizing hair testing is seen as an efficient approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. Collecting hair near the scalp allows for detection capabilities of up to about three months for substances like alcohol and other drugs. The process of hair collection is straightforward, poses challenges for tampering, and is easily transportable.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken from the scalp will yield a 100mg specimen, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation tests. For additional testing such as EtG, expanded panels, or beyond 10 panels, it is advisable to obtain 150mg of the specimen. We advise using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedure for processing a drug test result in the laboratory encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The Accessioning stage involves the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory's system. This includes verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides an initial quick evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening offers an economical way to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate secondary validation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), resulting in hair drug screening being the most complex methodology.
Positive Screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are washed before Confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", this testing process targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Red Chute, LA
When comparing hair tests to traditional urine tests in Red Chute, hair testing offers distinct advantages:
Extended Detection Window in Red Chute, LA
Hair follicle testing in Red Chute provides a comprehensive drug use history:
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Red Chute, LA
Hair follicle testing in Red Chute greatly reduces tampering risks:
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Red Chute, LA
Testing is accessible and stress-free in Red Chute thanks to nationwide centers:
Simple, Confidential Process in Red Chute, LA
The hair follicle testing process in Red Chute is user-friendly and private:
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Red Chute, LA
Our services in Red Chute come with competitive pricing:
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Red Chute, LA
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Red Chute stand out in identifying substance use.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Red Chute, LA
Employers in Red Chute benefit from hair follicle testing:
