Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an influential approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug usage by encasing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When extracted near the scalp, hair offers a detection span of up to about three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.
A sample about 1.5 inches long with approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests more than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate weighing. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar volume of body hair can be acquired. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
There are four core stages in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s network. This consists of ensuring that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening serves as an economical method to dismiss drug usage in numerous samples, a positive screening must undergo confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleaned prior to confirmation if required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Pinewood, MN surpasses traditional urine tests in various ways. While urine tests can detect substance use within a shorter time frame, hair tests offer extended detection periods, capturing drug history over three months. This makes hair tests superior for comprehensive overviews.
The level of accuracy and reliability with hair follicle testing is unmatched compared to urine tests. Employers looking for long-term insights into substance use find hair testing invaluable due to its high detection accuracy and reliability.
The hair follicle test's ability to detect substance use over 90 days is a major advantage for employers in Pinewood, MN. This extended detection window provides deep insights into an individual's drug use history, far beyond what standard tests can offer.
Employers benefit from this extended detection period, gaining a thorough understanding of an employee's substance use. By looking back up to 90 days, they are equipped with a comprehensive view of the test subject's drug history.
Hair follicle tests in Pinewood, MN offer a level of tamper-resistance that is difficult to match. The structure and collection process of these tests ensure high protection from adulteration, delivering secure and trustworthy results each time.
This method significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering, thereby increasing the reliability of results. Hair follicle tests are meticulous in their process, leaving little room for manipulation or fraud.
With numerous locations nationwide and local testing sites in Pinewood, MN, drug testing services are readily accessible. This wide network ensures convenient and efficient service, minimizing hassle while maintaining high-quality testing availability.
Our national and local presence guarantees that clients in Pinewood, MN can administer tests swiftly and effortlessly. The infrastructure is in place to facilitate easy access to necessary testing facilities.
In Pinewood, MN, the process of ordering, performing, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and confidential. The steps are designed to be user-friendly, addressing privacy concerns while ensuring ease of access.
Hair follicle testing involves simple and discreet procedures, ensuring that the process prioritizes user privacy. From test ordering to result receipt, every stage is streamlined for maximum user comfort.
In Pinewood, MN, our competitive pricing and quick result turnaround times highlight our commitment to providing excellent value. We cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring access to reliable and affordable testing services.
Prompt results and cost-effective solutions define our approach. We aim to deliver superb service to companies, ensuring affordability without compromising on the quality of our drug testing processes.
In Pinewood, MN, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their fast and accurate outcomes. These tests stand out by providing highly precise results when detecting traces of substance use. The process is both swift and dependable, offering assurance to those who need timely results.
The accuracy of hair follicle testing in identifying substance use is unparalleled. This method ensures that even the smallest traces of illicit substances are detected efficiently. Their precision makes them a preferred choice for accurate drug screening.
For employers in Pinewood, MN, hair follicle testing means compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thereby enhancing legal security and promoting a safe working environment. This testing method supports policy adherence and mitigates potential legal issues.
Using hair drug tests provides employers peace of mind through improved workplace safety and legal compliance. The integrity of hair testing ensures that businesses meet their drug policy standards reliably.
