Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective technique for detecting drug and alcohol presence. Hair strands offer an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When samples are taken near the scalp, they can reveal drug and alcohol consumption for a period of up to three months. The collection of hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is considered the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG and comprehensive tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent volume of body hair may be gathered. "Head hair" specifically denotes hair from the scalp, while "body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in processing a drug test outcome in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory system. It involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, designating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug consumption in most cases, confirming a positive screening is necessary for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results from Screening demand further confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positive findings during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, substances are removed from the hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Verification of any positive screening is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives undergo washing if required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is checked under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kinney, MN
Extended Detection Window in Kinney, MN
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kinney, MN
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kinney, MN
Simple, Confidential Process in Kinney, MN
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kinney, MN
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kinney, MN
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