Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of substances in its fibers as it grows, capturing markers indicative of alcohol and drug use. By taking a sample close to the scalp, one can achieve a detection window of roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands, roughly equating to a #2 pencil size, nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the prime quantity for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's best to weigh the collected hair using a jeweler’s scale. In absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key phases in lab processing a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial handling in the lab’s system. The process includes ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any manual data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a quick preliminary test for drug presence. Although being a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive screen needs confirmation to be legal in court. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a further confirmation step.
If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and processed for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation for any positive results from Screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All initially positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and reaches the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests actually examine the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Ostrander, MN, offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. With its superior detection accuracy, hair testing provides a comprehensive overview of drug use history. Unlike urine tests, which are limited to short-term detection, hair analysis spans a broader period, offering unparalleled reliability and detailed insights into an individual's substance usage.
With a remarkable extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Ostrander, MN, can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior. This extensive timeframe provides employers with a thorough understanding of an employee's or applicant's past substance habits, ensuring informed decision-making and fostering a safer workplace.
The robustness of hair follicle tests in Ostrander, MN, is largely due to their tamper-resistant nature. This testing method significantly minimizes the likelihood of sample adulteration, ensuring results that are both reliable and beyond question. Employers can trust the integrity of these tests to deliver precise and authentic outcomes.
Our testing services in Ostrander, MN, are enhanced by convenient nationwide locations. With centers spread across the country, accessing drug testing services becomes quick, easy, and hassle-free. This widespread availability ensures that individuals and companies can arrange tests locally without logistical challenges.
The process of hair follicle testing in Ostrander, MN, is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns head-on. From ordering to receiving results, the system is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring ease of use for all participants without compromising personal data security.
In Ostrander, MN, our hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. This combination provides exceptional value to companies, regardless of size. By balancing competitive costs with quick results, we deliver peace of mind alongside budget-conscious services.
In Ostrander, MN, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method stands out due to its precision in detecting substance use across a broad spectrum of drugs. The swift analysis process ensures results are delivered promptly, benefiting employers and individuals alike by providing clear and decisive evidence of drug use.
Employers in Ostrander, MN, can achieve compliance and peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies, lowering legal liabilities and contributing to a safer working environment. Hair testing proves to be a strategic choice for maintaining regulatory compliance.
