Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged account of alcohol and substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can reflect a detection span of up to nearly 90 days for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands (about the circumference of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample size for both initial and confirmatory tests. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When speaking of head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This encompasses confirming that the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use across most samples, a positive screen requires validation to be legally acceptable. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening do necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
If a sample is likely positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are derived from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug analysis is the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All likely positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory operation from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
When considering drug testing options in Lucan, MN, hair follicle tests clearly outshine urine tests due to their superior detection accuracy and reliability. These tests offer a more assured means of identifying drug use, reducing the likelihood of false negatives that you might see with urine testing. The efficacy of hair testing ensures that organizations receive more dependable data for making important decisions.
Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window up to 90 days, providing Lucan, MN's employers with a comprehensive history of a candidate's substance usage. This wide detection period allows businesses to evaluate an employee's drug-use patterns for a broader timeframe, offering an in-depth understanding that traditional testing methods, limited to shorter periods, cannot match.
One of the crucial advantages of hair follicle testing in Lucan, MN, is its tamper-resistant nature. This method drastically minimizes the chance of sample adulteration, giving reliable results that are difficult to contest. By choosing hair follicle tests, companies can trust that the results they receive are authentic and corrobate the true substance use history of the tested individual.
Residents and enterprises in Lucan, MN benefit from the convenient nationwide testing locations offered by our service, ensuring quick and hassle-free access to our centers. The strategic placement of these centers means that safe, professional testing is always within reach, allowing easy incorporation into company policies and individual needs.
The hair follicle testing process in Lucan, MN, is straightforward and confidential, offering ease and privacy at every step. Choosing this method ensures a simple experience from ordering to receiving results, all while maintaining your desire for confidentiality. Issues like lengthy processing and privacy concerns are alleviated, leading to a smooth testing journey.
Our services in Lucan, MN, offer affordable pricing combined with quick turnaround times. This approach promises excellent value for companies of all sizes, encouraging wider adoption of hair drug testing. Our competitive pricing structure, along with expedited results, ensures you receive the best return on your investment while upholding high standards of testing.
Hair follicle testing in Lucan, MN, is celebrated for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are conducted efficiently and precisely identify substance use with a high degree of accuracy, providing definitive insights into an individual's history of drug use. The science behind hair follicle testing enhances its precision, leaving little room for error and establishing it as a preferred method for many organizations.
For Lucan, MN employers, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, thereby reducing legal risks and enhancing safety. Offering peace of mind, this testing process helps organizations maintain a sober and orderly work environment, significantly mitigating potential problems associated with drug use on the job.
