Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by trapping specific biomarkers within the hair’s growing fibers. Obtained near the scalp, hair samples offer up to an estimated three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising about 200 strands of hair (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, which is perfect for screening and confirmation. For EtG or additional tests exceeding ten panels, 150mg is advised. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a similar amount of body hair can be obtained. Referencing head hair concerns scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails initial processing of a sample into the laboratory’s system. It includes confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any needed data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial rapid check for abused substances. Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples; however, positive results need confirmation for courtroom acceptance. Presumptively positive Screening samples require secondary confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (ex. urine, oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing poses greater challenges.
Verification of any positive Screening outcome occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The total laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment analyzes the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
In Pequot Lakes, MN, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in multiple ways. The enhanced detection accuracy and superior reliability set it apart.
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