Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sampled near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG, or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair denotes all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary phases involved in the lab processing of a drug test sample are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This step involves confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial, rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screening requires confirmation for legal acceptance. Any samples flagged as potentially positive during Screening must undergo a secondary validation.
Should a sample show a potential positive result at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, substances are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to conduct.
Confirmation of a positive screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All potentially positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation when necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Applegate, MI, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by providing more reliable detection of drug use. The accuracy of hair tests makes them a preferred choice compared to urine tests, minimizing false-negative results and ensuring that employers can maintain a drug-free environment effectively.
The benefits of hair testing over urine testing include its longer detection period and greater resistance to attempts at falsification. This ensures that the integrity of the results is maintained, further bolstering confidence in the testing process for employers and legal entities.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Applegate, MI offers a significant advantage, as it can track drug use over a 90-day period. This lengthy timeframe allows organizations to gain a comprehensive view of substance usage behavior, offering a clearer picture of an individual's history.
Employers seeking to maintain a drug-free workplace benefit from this feature, as it enables them to assess long-term patterns of drug use rather than just recent instances. This extended window supports creating a safer and more reliable work environment.
Hair follicle tests in Applegate, MI, provide a strong resistance to tampering, significantly reducing the chances of adulterated samples. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests deliver trustworthy and indisputable results, as they are far less prone to deliberate interference.
This reliability in testing enhances the confidence of employers and legal professionals, ensuring that the results they depend on for important decisions are both valid and untampered, leading to improved compliance and outcomes.
Our nationwide network of testing centers, including those in Applegate, MI, offers unparalleled convenience for hair testing services. This extensive network ensures that clients have easy and prompt access to testing facilities across diverse locations, eliminating logistical challenges.
Local presence combined with the support of nationwide facilities enables seamless service delivery, whether for large organizations or individual testing needs, promoting a hassle-free experience for all clients.
The process for hair follicle testing in Applegate, MI, is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing concerns over privacy. The straightforward procedures for ordering, sampling, and results delivery prove easy for users, enhancing user satisfaction.
Our commitment to confidentiality ensures that client data and testing outcomes are securely managed, allowing both individuals and organizations to rely on a private and effective testing process with peace of mind.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times makes hair follicle testing in Applegate, MI, an affordable choice for companies of any size. This economical approach to testing does not compromise on quality, providing remarkable value for businesses keen on maintaining workplace safety.
Fast processing times ensure results are delivered promptly, enabling employers to make timely decisions, essential for maintaining a productive and secure work environment without breaking the budget.
Accurate and swift testing are essential, especially in Applegate, MI. Hair follicle drug tests meet these criteria, offering high precision in identifying substance use. This method eliminates the uncertainty found in other tests, providing reliable results quickly, ensuring that decisions based on these tests are well-informed.
Along with precision, the speed of results from hair follicle testing is unparalleled. This ensures that employers and individuals receive timely insights into substance use patterns without unnecessary delays, supporting efficient decision-making processes.
In Applegate, MI, hair follicle testing delivers immense peace of mind for employers by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace standards. Using these tests reduces legal risks and elevates workplace safety, providing organizations with a secure foundation for managing employee behavior.
Employers benefit from the accuracy and reliability of hair testing, which serves as a robust method for maintaining adherence to company policies, fostering a productive and secure environment for workforce members.
