Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When sampled near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, with low risk of tampering, and is hassle-free for shipping.
A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields about 100mg—ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a sample weight of 150mg is suggested. It is advised to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair should be collected. "Head hair" specifically indicates scalp hair, whereas "body hair" refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab’s system. This phase ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry absent from an electronic custody chain.
Screening is a preliminary, rapid check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening cost-effectively dismisses drug use in most cases, confirming a positive screen is essential for legal admissibility. Samples suspected of being positive during Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample test positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to perform.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned before Confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is thoroughly reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," this test analyzes the hair itself, excluding the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Afton, MN, hair follicle tests outshine urine tests. These tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Hair follicle testing in Afton, MN, offers an extended detection window up to 90 days. This gives employers a thorough view into an individual’s drug use history.
Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant approach in Afton, MN, reducing adulteration risks.
With accessible nationwide and local locations in Afton, MN, testing is convenient and hassle-free.
Enjoy a simple and confidential process in Afton, MN, when ordering, taking, and receiving results of hair tests.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Afton, MN, our hair testing services provide excellent value.
The efficiency and precision of hair follicle drug tests in Afton, MN, are unmatched. Fast and accurate, these tests swiftly determine substance use, providing dependable results.
Employers in Afton, MN, can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair testing, safeguarding workplace policies.
