Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair examination is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug exposure by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When hair is taken near the scalp, it can reveal up to roughly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
An ideal sample for verification and continuous examination includes a 1.5-inch snip of around 200 strands of hair (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, accounting for 100mg of hair. For EtG, supplementary, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to use 150mg of the sample. It's recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it directly refers to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core steps in laboratory processing for drug test evaluation include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the step where a sample first enters the laboratory’s system, ensuring correct sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data inputs missing from the electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient technique to negate drug usage for most samples, any positive screen must be validated for legal purposes. Thus, samples showing preliminary positive results during Screening require a secondary confirmation.
In the event of a presumptive positive from Screening, additional hair is sourced from the original specimen and set for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a complex procedure.
Any positive results from Screening are validated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples marked as presumptive positive are subject to washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests," the assessment focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Sangerville, ME triumphs over urine screening due to its exceptional detection capability and reliability. Hair analysis leads the way in long-term substance identification, offering insights that urine tests might overlook. This superiority ensures a robust understanding of substance use.
Employers value hair tests primarily for the broader detection spectrum they offer compared to urine samples. Hair tests unveil prolonged use phases, presenting a clearer behavioral image for both employers and legal entities.
The extended detection window of up to 90 days sets hair follicle testing apart in Sangerville, ME. This comprehensive timeline facilitates an employer's evaluation of a potential hire or existing employee's past substance use, offering insights that standard tests might omit.
This extended period allows employers to confidently make informed decisions based on a longer historical drug use understanding, ensuring a safer and more informed workplace.
Hair follicle tests are a bastion against sample adulteration, ensuring undeniable results in Sangerville, ME. Their tamper-resistant nature considerably lowers the risk of manipulation, providing an assured testing method.
This security measure boosts confidence in the outcome, reassuring both employers and participants about the integrity and trustworthiness of the testing procedure.
Our nationwide network of testing centers, including convenient local sites in Sangerville, ME, ensures hassle-free access to drug testing services. This extensive reach provides both swift and straightforward testing processes.
Employers and individuals benefit from efficient access wherever it's needed, underlining the convenience of our widespread testing solutions.
In Sangerville, ME, the process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and private. This simplicity ensures that privacy concerns are addressed while offering an easy-to-use service.
Participants can rely on the confidential nature of the process, which is designed to seamlessly integrate into routine procedures while safeguarding individual privacy.
With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, our services in Sangerville, ME deliver excellent value. Companies of every size benefit from our affordability, while the fast service ensures peace of mind.
Our pricing structures combined with swift results make for a compelling proposition, enabling organizations to make cost-efficient decisions without compromising on service quality.
In Sangerville, ME, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their remarkable precision and speed. These tests swiftly provide accurate detection of various substances, reinforcing their role as reliable indicators of drug use.
The reliability of hair tests emerges from their capacity to consistently offer accurate results, making them the preferred choice for detecting substance use effectively and rapidly.
In Sangerville, ME, employers find peace of mind with hair follicle testing for its compliance with drug-free workplace standards. This method mitigates legal risks while enhancing workplace safety, creating a harmonious work environment.
Employers can maintain rigorous checks, aligning with safety policies, reinforcing their commitment to a substance-free working terrain.