Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now widely recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands can capture biomarkers within their growth, offering a prolonged history of alcohol and drug usage. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tough to falsify, and convenient for transport.
A sample size of 1.5 inches, roughly consisting of 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil), close to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, perfect for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable volume of body hair may be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all alternative hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results encompasses four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to initially processing a sample into the lab's system. This step includes verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening represents an initial swift assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is an economical method to discard most samples for drug use, a positive outcome must be validated for legal admissibility. All samples with a presumed positive result from Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
When a sample shows a presumed positive result in the Screening phase, more hair is derived from the original specimen for the Extraction step. In this phase, drug substances are retrieved from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other processes (such as urine or oral fluid testing), which is why hair drug screening is considered a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening results occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumed positive are cleansed pre-confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often named "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Superior Detection Accuracy: Hair follicle tests surpass urine tests in catching long-term substance use, providing detailed and accurate results not achievable with traditional methods.
Reliable Over Time: Unlike urine tests, hair analysis unveils drug histories over extended periods, ensuring thorough and accurate assessments.
Extended Detection Period: Hair tests are valuable for identifying drug use over a longer timeframe, up to 90 days, providing comprehensive insight into an individual's substance history.
Comprehensive Evaluation: Extended detection windows ensure that employers gain a broader understanding of an applicant or employee's drug use patterns.
Reduced Risk of Adulteration: Hair testing's sample integrity means virtually no chance of manipulation, leading to unadulterated and dependable results compared to urine tests.
Reliable Results Guaranteed: The tamper-resistant nature ensures undeniable accuracy, safeguarding the testing process from fraudulent activities.
Convenient Local Access: Our thorough network of testing locations across Bay City, MI, and beyond ensures effortless procurement of testing services for all clients.
Nationwide Coverage: With testing facilities across the country, gaining quick and hassle-free testing access is simple for individuals everywhere.
Effortless Process: From ordering to receiving results, our hair testing process remains simple, ensuring user-friendliness with confidentiality intact.
Privacy Prioritized: Clients appreciate the confidential manner in which testing services are rendered, staying informed every step of the way.
Competitive Pricing: Delight in cost-effective options that promise high-quality results, ensuring value for businesses regardless of size.
Swift Turnaround: Our commitment to fast result delivery means businesses can act promptly, securing reliability and reducing wait times.
Precision and Speed: Hair follicle tests offer fast processing and unmatched accuracy, reliably indicating substance use. With expedited results, decision-making becomes swift and confident.
Unparalleled Accuracy: These tests accurately detect various substances, offering a clear and trustworthy profile of an individual's drug history.
Ensuring Compliance: Utilizing hair follicle tests for workplace drug policies dramatically lowers legal risks and upholds the organization's zero-tolerance stance.
Enhancing Safety and Assurance: These tests foster workplace safety and assurance, offering employers peace of mind through solid compliance.
