Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a robust mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strands. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a three-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. Hair sampling is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.
A segment of 1.5 inches comprising about 200 hair strands (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) near the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG analysis, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" pertains exclusively to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair varieties (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary stage of integrating a sample into a laboratory system. This step includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any ancillary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for substance abuse. Though Screening is economical in precluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples deemed presumptive positives during Screening must undergo a subsequent confirmation step.
Should a sample show positive indications during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. This phase involves withdrawing drugs from hair at lower concentrations than those in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), posing a greater challenge to hair drug screening.
The Confirmation of any positive screen outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle situated beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Excels Over Urine Testing in Pittston, ME
With a detection period of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Pittston, ME offer long-term insight into substance use.
Employers benefit from this extended window as it provides a fuller picture of an employee's substance history.
This comprehensive view aids in making more informed decisions during hiring or monitoring.
Hair Follicle Tests Resist Tampering in Pittston, MEIChoosing hair testing minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, a common concern with other methods.
Nationwide and Local Testing Locations in Pittston, ME
Our Simple and Confidential Process in Pittston, MEOur process makes taking a hair follicle test straightforward and private.
Affordable and Fast Turnaround in Pittston, MEOur hair follicle tests are competitively priced, ensuring value for all companies.
The accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug tests make them a top choice in Pittston, ME. Precision is key, as these tests are adept at identifying numerous substances.
The detection process is quick and reliable, ensuring that results are both fast and trustworthy. Hair testing's high accuracy in spotting substance use makes it invaluable for both employers and other stakeholders.
Ensuring Compliance and Safety in the Workplace in Pittston, ME
Using hair follicle testing supports drug-free policies, reducing legal risks for employers.
