Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a strong method for detecting substance and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the structure of the growing hair fiber. When sampled near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to gather, difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
Gathering a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for testing and confirming results. For EtG, extended tests, or panels beyond 10, a sample weighing 150mg is suggested. It is advised to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be taken. In using the term head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The key stages in laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample upon entering a laboratory's ecosystem. This step confirms that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any outstanding data entry if an electronic chain of custody system is not in use.
Screening offers a swift preliminary review for substances of abuse. Although Screening economically dismisses drug usage in most samples, a positive screening requires validation to hold up in legal cases. Samples returning a presumptive positive from Screening need further confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for the Extraction stage. Here, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or saliva). This attribute makes hair drug testing highly complex.
Any Screening positives undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All provisional positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire analytical process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and in adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 certifications.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests," the evaluation targets the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the skin.
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in Keweenaw Bay, MI due to its enhanced detection capabilities.
In Keweenaw Bay, MI, hair follicle testing offers a substantial detection period, up to 90 days, which benefits employers seeking a comprehensive view of an applicant's substance history.
Hair follicle tests in Keweenaw Bay, MI significantly reduce sample tampering risks.
With testing centers nationwide and in Keweenaw Bay, MI, accessing drug testing services is straightforward and convenient.
In Keweenaw Bay, MI, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential.
Keweenaw Bay, MI offers competitive pricing for hair follicle testing combined with quick turnaround times.
Keweenaw Bay, MI offers speedy and precise hair follicle drug testing. These tests are renowned for their ability to accurately detect drug use, making them a highly reliable choice.
Employers in Keweenaw Bay, MI achieve compliance and tranquility using hair follicle testing.