Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by encasing biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When cut near the scalp, hair can indicate a detection period of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and simple to send.
A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional testing, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a specimen amount of 150mg is advised. It is recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair imply scalp hair specifically, whereas body hair includes all other varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four core steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning details the preliminary submission of a sample into the lab’s workflow. This step includes ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any needed information not covered by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening serves as a low-cost method to mostly discount drug usage in samples, any positive screen must be verified to be acceptable in a legal context. Any specimens preliminarily positive in Screening require a further confirmation step.
When a specimen is presumptively positive at the Screening level, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are separated from hair at concentrations much lower than in alternative practices (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging method to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening finding is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 certification.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp
Choosing hair follicle testing over traditional urine testing offers significant benefits in Lake Arrowhead, ME. Hair tests surpass urine tests in detection accuracy, offering a longer detection window and promoting reliability.
When compared, hair testing showcases superior detection capabilities. While urine tests can detect recent substance use, hair testing provides a much broader timeline, ensuring comprehensive analysis.
The extended window for detecting drug use is a standout feature of hair follicle testing in Lake Arrowhead, ME. This method tracks substance use over three months, offering employers a detailed insight into an individual's history.
Hair follicle tests are an invaluable tool in understanding an applicant or employee's past. They capture a prolonged period of drug history, up to 90 days, ensuring informed decision-making.
Hair follicle testing is significantly resistant to tampering, making it a reliable choice in Lake Arrowhead, ME. The nature of this test inherently curtails the risk of sample alteration or falsification.
The assurance of untampered, conclusive results through hair follicle testing means trustworthy outcomes. This quality is pivotal, ensuring confidence in the testing processes and their results.
Our testing centers are conveniently located nationwide, including facilities in Lake Arrowhead, ME. This extensive network facilitates quick and uncomplicated access to drug testing services.
Local accessibility ensures that drug testing processes are both efficient and stress-free, meeting the demands of clients with seamless service across the nation, bolstered by local testing availability.
Hair follicle testing in Lake Arrowhead, ME features a straightforward and private process. From ordering to receiving results, each step is designed to uphold confidentiality and ease of use.
Our services prioritize user privacy, ensuring each stage is managed discreetly and securely. This user-centric approach alleviates concerns and supports a hassle-free testing experience.
Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Lake Arrowhead, ME an appealing choice for businesses. This testing offers excellent value, meeting varying budgetary needs with efficiency.
Affordability paired with reliability underscores our testing services, making us a preferred choice for companies of all sizes seeking quick, dependable results and financial prudence.
The efficiency and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests are outstanding, offering rapid and reliable results in Lake Arrowhead, ME. These tests are known for their precision, accurately identifying substance use patterns and providing dependable data.
With hair follicle testing, you can be assured of receiving swift results, maintaining high standards in detection efficiency. This unparalleled accuracy makes it an ideal choice for various testing requirements.
Employers in Lake Arrowhead, ME gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. Enforcing compliance effectively reduces legal risks.
This method enhances workplace safety by accurately identifying substance use, thus supporting a secure, compliant environment. The adoption of hair testing significantly contributes to legal and regulatory adherence.
