Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a roughly 3-month time frame for detecting drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts an initial swift check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates a confirmation to be court-admissible. Presumptively positive Screening samples require subsequent confirmation.
In cases where Screening indicates a presumptive positive, further hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this process, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower levels than in other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug analysis is the most challenging method to implement.
Confirmation of any positive screening finding is performed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptively positive undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the actual test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Winona, MS, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine testing due to its outstanding detection capabilities and dependability. While urine tests typically reveal drug use within a short window, hair testing provides a larger detection span, making it a more reliable choice for many institutions.
One of the outstanding benefits of hair follicle testing in Winona, MS, is its extended detection window. This method can unveil drug use up to 90 days prior, providing employers invaluable insights into an individual's substance history.
Hair follicle tests in Winona, MS, significantly decrease the potential for sample tampering, ensuring the authenticity of results obtained.
In Winona, MS, the convenience of our testing centers spans nationwide, ensuring straightforward access to essential testing services at local levels.
In Winona, MS, our hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential, prioritizing user privacy at each step, from ordering to receiving results.
Companies in Winona, MS, benefit from our competitive pricing and rapid results, offering exceptional value in hair follicle drug testing.
In Winona, MS, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, precise, and reliable outcomes. This method excels at identifying substance use, ensuring stakeholders receive trustworthy data.
For employers in Winona, MS, hair follicle testing elevates compliance with drug-free workplace standards, diminishing legal risks and ensuring a secure working environment.
