Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-lasting record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the strands of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to ship.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result entails four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective technique for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as deemed necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Watertown, MN, surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. The extended detection window allows for a detailed analysis of substance use history that urine tests often miss due to their shorter detection timeline.
By choosing hair follicle testing, employers and individuals benefit from a method that is not only nearly impossible to cheat but also provides a broader and more precise assessment of substance use compared to the limitations of traditional urine testing.
Employers in Watertown, MN, find hair follicle testing invaluable due to its extended detection window, which allows for monitoring drug use for up to 90 days. This prolonged period gives a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, aiding in informed decision-making.
The ability to track drug use over a few months offers a more complete picture of an employee's or applicant's habits, ensuring that decisions are based on extensive evidence rather than short-term behavior shifts, which increases workplace safety and integrity.
In Watertown, MN, hair follicle testing is recognized for its tamper-resistant nature. The collection process is designed to significantly minimize the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring the results are trustworthy and indisputable.
Unlike other methods, where samples can be easily contaminated or swapped, hair follicle tests in Watertown provide an airtight solution against tampering, delivering a reliable profile of the individual's substance use history that employers and legal bodies can depend on without doubt.
In Watertown, MN, the convenience of our testing centers nationwide ensures seamless access to hair follicle testing services. The numerous locations make the testing process quick, easy, and hassle-free for all individuals and organizations.
The broad network of testing centers across the country, including local options, ensures that people in Watertown can readily access high-quality drug testing, avoiding potential delays and facilitating the smooth continuation of critical services and employment processes.
Watertown, MN, prides itself on a straightforward and confidential hair follicle testing process. From ordering to testing and receiving results, each step is designed with privacy and ease of use in mind, addressing potential concerns individuals might have.
The assurance of confidentiality throughout the testing process builds trust, while the streamlined procedures ensure that clients experience no unnecessary complications, making the overall experience as simple and unobtrusive as possible.
Watertown, MN offers hair follicle testing solutions that boast competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, delivering exceptional value. Our efficient processes ensure that companies of all sizes can benefit from timely results without incurring high costs.
The focus on affordability and speed caters to various organizational needs, guaranteeing that companies can maintain workplace safety and compliance while balancing budgetary constraints, ultimately providing financial relief and certainty.
In Watertown, MN, hair follicle drug tests are acclaimed for their swift and precise outcomes. The meticulous nature of the testing process guarantees a high level of accuracy in identifying substance use, providing reliable results faster than traditional methods.
Hair follicle testing stands out for delivering timely results while maintaining dependability. The method is designed to offer an efficient testing experience without compromising the precision of the detected substances, ensuring confidence in the results obtained.
For Watertown, MN employers, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind in enforcing drug-free workplace policies. The method enhances the organization's ability to uphold its safety standards, as the extensive detection range supports maintaining a drug-free environment.
The use of hair follicle tests reduces legal risks associated with substance abuse in the workplace, as it provides credible evidence of drug use over time, assuring employers of regulatory compliance and thus alleviating related concerns.
