Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has increasingly become recognized as an effective way to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of drug and alcohol intake by embedding biomarkers within its strands as they grow. When hair is gathered close to the scalp, it can offer up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advised. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the primary step where a sample is integrated into the laboratory’s system. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any pending data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a rapid initial evaluation for drugs of abuse. This cost-effective step allows for the elimination of drug use in most samples. Nonetheless, any positive results in Screening require confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Samples with preliminary positive results in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.
Upon a preliminary positive result in the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. This involves extracting drugs from hair in concentrations much lower than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging procedure.
Confirmation of positive screening results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Any samples with presumed positive results are washed prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is monitored under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp
In the Village of Clarkston, MI, hair follicle testing is preferred over urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair testing can identify foreign substances over a lengthy window, offering employers a true assessment of an individual's lifestyle. This method ensures comprehensive detection and reduces doubts over test integrity.
Employers in Village of Clarkston, MI, utilize hair follicle testing for its extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method provides a detailed overview of an individual's substance use history, giving employers a reliable measure of an applicant's or employee's past behavior, beyond just recent activity.
Hair follicle testing in Village of Clarkston, MI, significantly minimizes the chance of sample tampering, providing unquestionable reliability. Unlike other testing methods, which can be influenced by external factors, hair tests offer a secure and trustworthy approach, ensuring results that hold up under scrutiny.
Our numerous testing facilities, including those in Village of Clarkston, MI, make accessing services easy and convenient. With numerous locations nationwide, testing for drugs and alcohol becomes a streamlined process, allowing individuals and employers to obtain results without hassle or prolonged wait times.
Our confidential process in Village of Clarkston, MI ensures privacy and ease. From ordering to obtaining results, ensuring user-friendly access while preserving confidentiality. Our system guarantees a simple, worry-free journey, prioritizing the security of personal information at every stage.
In Village of Clarkston, MI, our drug testing incorporates affordable pricing coupled with quick turnaround times, ensuring companies of all sizes receive superior service without financial strain. The focus on value and efficiency reassures businesses they're receiving comprehensive testing at competitive costs.
In the Village of Clarkston, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision, delivering results that are both fast and reliable. This method surpasses others by offering high accuracy in substance detection. Employers and individuals benefit significantly from the speed and dependability of hair tests, ensuring a detailed and truthful analysis of substance use history.
In the Village of Clarkston, MI, employers benefit from hair follicle testing by maintaining compliance with workplace drug policies. This method reduces legal risks and supports a safe work environment. By enforcing zero-tolerance policies effectively, companies uphold safety and ensure business integrity.
