Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Silver Bay, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample, comprising roughly 200 strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yields about 100mg, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is preferred. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring its appropriate sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any auxiliary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid check for drug abuse. Despite being a cost-effective method to rule out drug usage in most samples, positive screens require confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumptively positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. This phase involves drug extraction at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Required presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which provide a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to deceive: Tampering with hair drug tests is exceedingly hard, thereby ensuring more accurate results.
• Offers historical insights: Capable of depicting a usage pattern over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the procedure actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the hair follicle within the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Silver Bay, MN, surpasses traditional urine tests by offering enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. This testing method is preferred due to its ability to detect drug use over a substantial period, providing a more comprehensive overview than urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Silver Bay, MN, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. This method reveals drug use up to 90 days prior, offering a detailed view of an individual's substance history, crucial for making informed employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Silver Bay, MN, ensures a significant reduction in the risk of sample adulteration. This provides results that are reliable and leaves no room for doubt or manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Silver Bay, MN, the availability of nationwide and local testing centers offers smooth access to hair follicle tests. This wide network allows convenient and hassle-free testing services, providing quick and efficient solutions wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for ordering and receiving hair follicle test results in Silver Bay, MN, is both simple and confidential. This ensures that individuals' privacy is respected, and the ease of use eases potential concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Silver Bay, MN, our hair follicle testing offers affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. This provides excellent value, delivering swift and efficient results for companies of all sizes, enhancing their peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Silver Bay, MN, hair follicle drug tests stand out due to their speed and accuracy. Precision in detecting substance use is a hallmark of these tests, ensuring that results are both fast and reliable, making them a trusted choice for many.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Silver Bay, MN, using hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies. This method supports employers in maintaining compliance, reducing legal risks, and enhancing overall workplace safety and peace of mind.

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