Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a highly effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and other substances by embedding markers in the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is recommended to gather 150mg of the sample. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may be collected. By head hair, we denote scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other forms of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory system. This process includes ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening represents an initial swift evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to be accepted in legal proceedings. All samples showing presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is regarded as the most challenging technique to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation if required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
In Georgetown, MD, hair follicle testing notably surpasses traditional urine testing. It provides higher accuracy and reliability in detecting drugs, making it the preferred choice for many.
Hair follicle testing in Georgetown, MD, offers an extensive detection period of up to 90 days, providing employers with a thorough overview of a person's drug history.
With significant tamper-resistant attributes, hair follicle tests in Georgetown, MD, ensure integrity and trustworthy results.
In Georgetown, MD, access to hair follicle testing is convenient with numerous nationwide centers. Experience hassle-free testing wherever you are.
The testing process in Georgetown, MD, is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease from ordering to results retrieval.
Competitive pricing and quick processing in Georgetown, MD, make hair follicle testing an attractive option for businesses, offering excellent value.
The swiftness and precision of hair follicle drug tests in Georgetown, MD, offer a significant advantage. These tests stand out with their remarkable accuracy in identifying substance use, providing fast and reliable results.
For Georgetown, MD employers, using hair follicle tests ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thus minimizing legal risks and enhancing safety.
