Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Evaluating drug and alcohol consumption through hair testing has gained recognition as a potent method. Hair captures biomarkers within its strands, offering an extended timeline of up to three months for the detection of alcohol and other substances, especially when taken near the scalp. This method is easy to obtain, resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch piece consisting of roughly 200 hair strands, comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil, from the area nearest the scalp delivers an optimal 100mg for both screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, additional components, or those exceeding 10 panels, it’s preferable to use 150mg of hair. It’s advisable to measure this on a jeweler’s scale. If head hair cannot be used, an equivalent measure of body hair may be gathered. "Head hair" specifically references scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
Drug test results are processed through four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning signifies the preliminary setup of a sample in a laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample was properly secured and sent, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any data missing from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening conducts an initial, rapid inspection for drug presence. Although cost-efficient, a positive screen result requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples with presumptive positives from Screening necessitate further verification.
In cases of presumptive positives during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), presenting the complexity of hair drug testing.
Confirmation of positive screening results employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing as needed. The complete process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests," it's the hair strand itself that's analyzed, not the follicle beneath the surface.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Prevails Over Urine Testing in Mount Lena, MD highlights the superior strengths of hair tests over traditional urine tests. The hair analysis extends detection capabilities, ensuring remarkable accuracy.
With an extended detection window up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Mount Lena, MD provides an expansive overview of drug use. Employers gain insight into an individual's substance history.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Mount Lena, MD is pivotal in preserving sample integrity. This testing method drastically minimizes adulteration risks.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and local centers in Mount Lena, MD offer hassle-free access to reliable testing services. Accredited Drug Testing ensures extensive geographical coverage.
Simple, Confidential Process in Mount Lena, MD offers a streamlined and discreet testing experience. From ordering to receiving results, client confidentiality is prioritized.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Mount Lena, MD highlight competitive rates and swift result delivery. This makes hair follicle testing a valuable option for businesses.
The hair follicle test is known for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results in Mount Lena, MD. This method boasts a high precision level, detecting substances with unmatched speed and accuracy.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mount Lena, MD is achievable through hair follicle testing. This strategy helps in maintaining alignment with drug-free workplace policies, reducing liabilities.