Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair sample analysis has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair strands encapsulate a prolonged history of drug and alcohol use by trapping biomarkers within the strand’s fibers. When harvested near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection range of up to about three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
Extracting a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil’s diameter) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. To include EtG add-ons or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is advised. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. Regarding head hair, it pertains only to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The four pivotal stages in the lab processing of a drug test entail Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the initial stage of introducing a sample into a lab's framework. This phase ensures the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigns it a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While this is a cost-efficient strategy to rule out drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to hold up in a court setting. Any samples with presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
Presumptively positive samples in Screening lead to further hair being extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. This process entails extracting drugs from hair at a considerably lower concentration than found in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives undergo washing as required. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review in compliance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests," this test actually examines the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
In Baldwin, ME, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing due to its higher accuracy and reliability.
Hair tests offer refined detection capabilities, ensuring dependable results over traditional urine tests.
Employers in Baldwin, ME, benefit from hair follicle testing with its extended detection window up to 90 days.
This approach gives an in-depth view of a subject's past substance use, broadening evaluation perspectives.
Offering significant resistance to tampering, hair follicle tests in Baldwin, ME, are nearly foolproof.
Their design minimizes the risk of adulteration, ensuring unquestionable trustworthy results.
Our conveniently located testing centers in Baldwin, ME, and nationwide, provide accessible drug testing services.
These locations ensure hassle-free, quick, and efficient services for all clients.
The straightforward process in Baldwin, ME, ensures confidentiality when ordering, taking, and receiving hair test results.
Privacy concerns and usability are addressed, providing ease and discretion.
In Baldwin, ME, we offer competitive pricing paired with quick results, aligning with the needs of businesses of all sizes.
Our affordable structures ensure value, coupled with speedy turnaround times for peace of mind.
In Baldwin, ME, the efficiency of hair follicle drug tests lies in their speed and precision, providing highly accurate results for substance detection.
These tests excel in reliably identifying a variety of substances, assuring fast and exact outcomes.
For Baldwin, ME, employers, hair follicle testing strengthens compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This method lowers legal liabilities and boosts workplace safety and peace of mind.
