Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair strand, providing a long-term history of drug and alcohol use. When collected close to the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to roughly three months for substances like alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to send for analysis.
A 1.5-inch sample containing approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for testing and verification. For additional tests such as EtG, or more than 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is recommended. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it refers to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step, involving processing the sample into the laboratory's system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was sealed and shipped properly, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any additional data entry not completed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary method for detecting drugs of abuse. Though Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use on most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally admissible. Samples that screen posiitive necessitate a secondary confirmation step.
If a sample is presumed positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is recognized as the most challenging to execute.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed as required prior to confirmation. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the Hair designation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Manitou Beach, MI, the hair method clearly excels. Offering superior detection accuracy and reliability, hair testing surpasses urine tests by providing a clearer examination of substance use. This robust method ensures greater trust for employers, courts, and individuals alike.
Hair follicle testing provides a substantial detection window in Manitou Beach, MI. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, it gives employers a complete view of any individual's substance use. This extended detection window offers invaluable insights beyond traditional urine testing, enhancing workforce substance compliance evaluations.
Manitou Beach, MI's hair follicle testing stands firm as a tamper-resistant method, decreasing the potential for sample adulteration. Resistant to common tampering methods, these tests yield reliable and uncontested results, offering peace of mind to employers and testing administrators ensuring integrity throughout the process.
Convenience in testing is assured with our nationwide and local testing centers throughout Manitou Beach, MI. These accessible locations facilitate easy, quick, and hassle-free testing for individuals and businesses alike, ensuring seamless integration into the busy schedules of all clients seeking reliable substance testing services.
In Manitou Beach, MI, the hair follicle testing process is not only straightforward but also confidential, catering to privacy-conscious clients. From ordering the test to receiving results, the pathway is designed for simplicity and ease of use, addressing privacy concerns effectively while maintaining full confidentiality throughout.
Manitou Beach, MI benefits from our affordable pricing and swift test turnaround times, offering competitive value. With pricing models catering to businesses of all sizes, quick turnaround times ensure decisions are made timely, facilitating operations without delays and providing excellent value for money invested in drug testing.
In Manitou Beach, MI, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their exceptional precision and speed. Offering fast, accurate results, they enable swift decision-making for businesses and individuals. The high accuracy ensures each test reliably detects any substance use, providing the confidence needed in a community setting.
For employers in Manitou Beach, MI, hair follicle testing offers unmatched compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal risks and enhancing safety measures, these tests provide peace of mind and uphold high standards of workforce integrity, essential for maintaining efficient and secure operations.
