Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximately 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair sampling is straightforward, relatively challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels over 10, it is advisable to use 150mg of the sample. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is absent, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s database. This process ensures that the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening performs an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is an economical method to rule out drug use in most samples, although a positive screen requires confirmation for it to be valid in a legal context. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is pulled from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex procedure to execute.
Positive screenings are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Lunenburg, MA surpasses traditional urine tests as it offers superior detection capabilities and consistent reliability.
Hair testing can detect longer-term substance use, while urine tests are typically limited to recent consumption.
With the ability to detect drug use up to 90 days prior, hair follicle testing in Lunenburg, MA offers an extended detection window.
This longer timeframe provides a more thorough understanding of an individual’s drug history, assisting employers in making informed decisions.
Hair follicle drug testing in Lunenburg, MA significantly minimizes tampering risks, ensuring credible and reliable outcomes.
Unlike other methods, hair testing’s process is difficult to compromise, offering trustworthy results for employers and authorities.
Our widespread testing facilities ensure convenient and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing services nationwide, including in Lunenburg, MA.
Quick and easy testing solutions are available at a nearby center.
In Lunenburg, MA, the process of hair follicle drug testing is both simple and confidential.
We prioritize privacy and ease of use, ensuring a smooth experience from order placement to results delivery.
Offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround in Lunenburg, MA, our hair follicle testing services promise excellent value.
Our competitive rates coupled with prompt results accommodate companies of varying sizes.
In Lunenburg, MA, hair follicle drug tests offer rapid and reliable outcomes. These tests stand out for their high precision in identifying drug use.
With advanced technology, hair testing guarantees a quick turnaround time paired with unmatched accuracy.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Lunenburg, MA fosters compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind for employers.
Such testing reduces legal exposure and enhances safety in the workplace environment.
