Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The effectiveness of hair testing as a method for detecting substance use, including drug and alcohol consumption, has gained recognition. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When harvested near the scalp, the hair offers a detection period of up to around three months for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
An ideal hair sample for analysis is a 1.5-inch segment, comprising roughly 200 strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil), closest to the scalp, yielding 100mg for testing. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels require 150mg of hair. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types such as facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step checks the correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns it a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and concludes any necessary manual data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody.
Screening offers a preliminary assessment for substance abuse detection. While it serves as an economical method to dismiss drug use in most cases, a confirmed positive result is necessary for legal proceedings. Thus, any samples showing a presumptive positive result in Screening require further confirmation.
For samples with presumptive positive results during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.
For Confirmation, positive screening results undergo GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive signs are cleansed before confirmation, if required. The complete laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis pertains to the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers substantial advantages over urine tests in Redwood, MS. With heightened detection accuracy, hair testing reliably uncovers drug use activities over an expansive timeframe, ensuring reliable insights.
Compared to the limitations of urine tests, hair follicle analysis excels in providing greater accuracy and more detailed insights into a subject's substance use history, proving its superior effectiveness.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing is unmatched in Redwood, MS. By revealing drug use up to 90 days prior, it offers employers a strategic advantage with comprehensive substance use profiles.
This wider detection range surpasses traditional methods, ensuring employers can access a full spectrum of an individual’s drug use history, aiding in informed decision-making processes.
Reduce the chance of tampering with accurate hair follicle drug tests in Redwood, MS. Their inherent resistance to sample adulteration provides thorough and definite results, leaving little room for doubt.
This method minimizes tampering risks, maintaining test integrity consistently. Employers receive reliable results reflective of true substance usage, thanks to the stringent nature of hair testing.
With widespread testing centers across the nation and local facilities in Redwood, MS, accessing drug testing services has never been more convenient. Our centers ensure seamless and efficient testing experiences, free of unnecessary complexities.
The breadth of our nationwide presence ensures easy access to testing wherever you are, streamlining processes and fast-tracking service delivery without compromising quality or privacy.
Redwood, MS residents benefit from a simple and confidential hair follicle testing process, which ensures privacy and ease from order to result. Every step is designed for user-friendliness and peace of mind.
Individuals can trust in a straightforward, discreet procedure. From ordering tests to receiving secure results, the entire experience is smooth, addressing potential privacy and convenience concerns effectively.
In Redwood, MS, hair follicle testing is both affordable and efficient, thanks to competitive pricing and fast turnaround. Companies of all sizes receive valuable results swiftly, adding significant value.
Quick test results paired with attractive pricing make hair follicle tests an economical choice for businesses. The cost-effectiveness and rapidity ensure company needs are met without breaking the bank.
In Redwood, MS, rapid and dependable outcomes are the hallmarks of hair follicle drug tests. These tests stand out for their efficiency in swiftly pinpointing substance usage, offering virtually unparalleled levels of accuracy compared to other methods.
Designed to meet evolving testing needs, hair follicle tests accomplish precision in detecting substance use. They provide robust results that are both fast and extremely trustworthy, setting a high standard for drug detection practices.
Employers in Redwood, MS, gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method assures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal challenges and heightening safety.
Employing hair follicle tests solidifies policy compliance, creates a safer work environment, and reduces potential liabilities stemming from inadequate drug screening practices.