Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means of detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When samples are taken close to the scalp, they can offer up to around a 3-month window of detection for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
Gathering a 1.5-inch segment, approximately consisting of 200 hairs (similar in size to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of hair is advised. A jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we refer to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other hair types (e.g. facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory handling of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a lab's workflow. This involves confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary check for substances of abuse. While Screening is economical for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result requires verification to be valid in legal settings. Any samples testing positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screen is performed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Oak Park, MI, hair testing holds a distinct advantage. Its superior accuracy in detection is unmatched, providing a reliable method for substance use identification. Hair tests excel at uncovering evidence of long-term use where urine tests fall short.
Hair testing offers a broader detection period than urine tests, capturing evidence of drug use over a longer span. This increased timeframe ensures that hair tests remain a valuable tool in maintaining workplace safety and adherence to policies.
Hair follicle testing in Oak Park, MI, provides a much more extended detection window for drug use, often up to 90 days. This advantage gives employers a detailed overview of an individual's substance habits, far exceeding the limited scope of traditional methods.
With a longer detection period, hair testing allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an employee or applicant's history with substance use, promoting a safe and productive work environment in Oak Park.
In Oak Park, MI, hair follicle tests are renowned for their resistance to sample tampering, ensuring reliability and integrity in results that are beyond question. The testing method significantly minimizes the chance of adulteration, maintaining compliance with best practice standards.
The stringent process for collecting hair samples in Oak Park effectively prevents tampering, delivering trustworthy findings and promoting confidence in the results among employers and other stakeholders.
In Oak Park, MI, the presence of convenient nationwide testing centers makes accessing hair follicle testing easy and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure that testing services are within reach, simplifying the process for both individuals and businesses.
Offering local sites and nationwide centers, Oak Park residents and businesses benefit from quick and seamless access to testing facilities, ensuring timely and effective service delivery across various locations.
The hair follicle testing process in Oak Park, MI, is designed to be straightforward and confidential, enhancing user ease and privacy. From test ordering to collection and results receipt, our method is streamlined to prioritize user convenience.
Confidentiality is key in Oak Park's hair testing services, ensuring that the process remains private and simple, addressing any concerns related to personal data protection and ease of accessibility for all clients.
In Oak Park, MI, hair follicle testing is offered at competitive prices, making it an affordable choice for businesses of all sizes. The swift turnaround times coupled with cost-effective pricing provide excellent value and reassurance.
Fast results and reasonable pricing make hair testing in Oak Park highly attractive, ensuring companies benefit from efficient service without compromising on budget, delivering substantial value to their drug testing needs.
In Oak Park, MI, the hair follicle drug test stands out for its remarkable precision and reliability in detecting substances. This advanced testing method is known for delivering quick and reliable results, ensuring high accuracy levels in substance usage detection.
The swiftness and accuracy of hair follicle tests make them the preferred choice in Oak Park. The testing process is designed to effectively identify substance use, delivering results that are both speedy and dependable, providing a higher level of trust in the findings.
Employers in Oak Park, MI, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring alignment with drug-free workplace policies. By using this testing method, employers can significantly reduce legal liabilities and foster a safe working environment.
Hair follicle tests offer assurance to Oak Park employers, helping them maintain compliance with industry regulations and workplace policies, thus enhancing overall safety and reducing the risk of drug-related incidents.
