Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug presence by ensnaring biomarkers within the hair's growing strand fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of about 200 hair strands (around the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we exclusively refer to scalp hair. Body hair includes any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core steps in the laboratory handling of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab's system. This process entails confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient means to dismiss drug use in most cases, any positive screen requires confirmation for judicial validity. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening need subsequent confirmation.
If a sample indicates a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is retrieved from the initial sample for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which underscores the complexity of performing hair drug screening.
Confirmation for any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo thorough washing before confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair Follicle Testing outshines urine testing in Cutler, ME by delivering superior accuracy and reliability. The former surpasses traditional methods, thanks to its enhanced detection capabilities.
The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Cutler, ME, provides insights into drug use over a longer duration, up to 90 days, aiding employers in evaluating a drug-free history.
Tamper-resistant hair follicle tests in Cutler, ME minimize sample adulteration risks, ensuring results that are both consistent and dependable.
In Cutler, ME, our nationwide and local testing locations provide accessible, effortless services for testing through conveniently situated centers.
The process in Cutler, ME is simple and confidential, making it easy to order, conduct tests, and receive results, all while respecting privacy.
Offering affordable pricing and swift processing in Cutler, ME, we ensure competitive rates and rapid results that deliver great value for businesses.
In Cutler, ME, hair follicle drug tests are noted for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method excels in swiftly identifying substance use with precision.
Employers in Cutler, ME gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, safeguarding drug-free workplace policies and mitigating legal challenges.
