Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fountain Green, MD

What it is, How it works

Hair screening emerged as a vital method for detecting drug and alcohol utilization. Hair serves as a long-term repository for traces of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, it offers a detection window for substances spanning up to roughly three months. The collection of hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion comprising approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for screening and verification. For EtG, additional assessments, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be procured, a similar portion of body hair might be used. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing pathway for a drug test outcome incorporates four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial entry of a sample into a lab’s system. This step confirms that the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizes any outstanding data processing omitted by an electronic custody tracking system.

Screening encompasses an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening presents a cost-effective means to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive outcome requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

In cases where a sample returns a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), hence hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Verification of any positive Screening outcome is performed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that show a presumptive positive are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests identify drug use over a span of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests possess a narrower detection window.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug consumption over an extended period, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: There is a latency of approximately 5-7 days before drugs become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations tend to be costlier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of metabolites in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Fountain Green, MD

The superiority of hair follicle over traditional urine testing lies in its unmatched detection accuracy and reliance. Hair testing boasts not only an extended detection window but also a resistance to results tampering. Employers prefer this method to maintain strict zero-tolerance policies, while benefitting from its honest, detailed substance use analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Fountain Green, MD

Hair follicle testing shines with its long detection capability, monitoring substance use up to 90 days. This broader time span offers employers a full intelligence view on an applicant’s history, aiding in better hiring decisions. With its extended window, companies adopt hair testing as a mainstay in comprehensive substance use evaluation.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Fountain Green, MD

Hair follicle tests provide an unmatched tamper-resistance methodology, minimizing chances of sample manipulation. This reliability is crucial, offering clients in Fountain Green definitive results. With less risk of test results being manipulated, stakeholders trust the hair test's integrity in producing genuine conclusions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Fountain Green, MD

With locations spread across the nation, our testing centers offer convenient access to drug testing services. In Fountain Green, clients enjoy quick and hassle-free procedures, owing to our strategic locations. Whether local or nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing provides seamless and efficient testing accessibility.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Fountain Green, MD

The hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Customers can order, undergo the test, and receive results while assured of privacy. This approach addresses confidentiality concerns, making it easy for users to integrate testing smoothly, without fear of privacy invasion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Fountain Green, MD

Our hair follicle testing services come with competitive pricing and swift turnaround. Catering to companies of varied sizes, this combination of cost-effectiveness and rapid results delivery enables businesses to gain swift insights without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Fountain Green, MD

Hair follicle drug tests in Fountain Green are renowned for delivering highly accurate results expediently. The precision of these tests is unmatched, ensuring that every substance use case is detected with confidence. Speed combined with accuracy assures stakeholders of the test's reliability, underscoring its value in critical assessment scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Fountain Green, MD

The practice of hair follicle drug testing secures compliance with drug-free policies at workplaces. Employers experience peace of mind, knowing their environments are safeguarded, reducing legal risks. The enhanced safety profile and credible policy adherence ensure continued law-abiding business protocols.

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