Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of substance use by trapping biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When samples are taken from near the scalp, they can indicate drug and alcohol use for up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample size of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, equates to 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, additional panels, and panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is recommended. It is advisable to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be gathered, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in processing a laboratory drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the first step in integrating a sample into the lab's system. This step ensures that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers a preliminary assessment to detect drugs of abuse. While cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in many samples, positive screening results require confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumed positive during the Screening phase must undergo secondary confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), indicating the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation where required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Rawls Springs, MS, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests. Hair tests are known for their enhanced detection and reliability. Unlike urine testing, hair analysis offers a broader perspective on drug use history, making it a favored choice among employers and legal systems.
Hair testing in Rawls Springs, MS, showcases an extended detection window, up to 90 days. This duration allows employers insight into an individual's long-term substance habits, providing a comprehensive evaluation that urine tests, which are limited to several days, cannot match.
Hair follicle tests in Rawls Springs, MS, are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature. By minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, these tests produce results that are both reliable and indisputable, thus ensuring authenticity in the substance screening process.
The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including those in Rawls Springs, MS, simplifies the testing process. With numerous locations, individuals gain hassle-free and time-efficient access to the necessary testing services, streamlining the entire procedure.
In Rawls Springs, MS, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Ensuring privacy and ease, results can be ordered and received with minimal fuss, addressing confidentiality concerns while maintaining a user-friendly overall experience.
Rawls Springs, MS, boasts competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle testing. This affordability, paired with efficient processing, offers excellent value for organizations of all scales, ensuring peace of mind and effective budget management.
In Rawls Springs, MS, hair follicle drug tests offer high precision, identified through their quick processing and remarkable accuracy in detecting substance use. With hair testing, results are reliable, providing insight without the wait that typically accompanies alternative methods.
Prompt and efficient, these tests ensure that substance screening is carried out with utmost exactness and reliability.
Employers in Rawls Springs, MS, find peace in hair follicle testing because it aligns with drug-free workplace policies. The method reduces legal risks and boosts workplace safety by ensuring employees are compliant, preserving a secure and law-abiding environment.
