Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can reveal a prolonged history of substance use by retaining biomarkers in the strands of developing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section comprising about 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or more than 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, the same quantity of body hair can be used. Reference to head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair refers to other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary intake of a sample into the lab's system. This step verifies if the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any additional data entry if not received through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial, swift check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective method for ruling out drug use in most cases, any positive screening result must be confirmed for legal purposes. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening need further confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or saliva tests), making hair drug screening a challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of a positive screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory operation from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair regulations and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Centertown, MO, hair follicle testing is proving its superiority over urine tests, offering unmatched accuracy and reliability. Key advantages include its longer detection window and its resistance to sample alteration. While urine tests are typically chosen for short-term detection, hair tests provide a broader view, capturing consistent substance use patterns.
The extensive drug detection abilities of hair tests make them an essential tool for employers striving to maintain a drug-free environment. The minimal chances of cheating bolster their reliability, setting them apart from more conventional urine tests that often fall short in long-term detection.
Hair follicle testing in Centertown, MO, delivers an impressive detection window extending up to 90 days. This prolonged timeframe ensures employers receive a comprehensive picture of an employee's drug history, allowing for better-informed decisions. The extended duration surpasses traditional detection methods significantly.
Offering a holistic perspective on substance usage, hair testing is invaluable for maintaining a drug-free workplace. Courting such a comprehensive view aids employers in evaluating continuous drug use patterns and aids in understanding an individual's substance use over three months.
Centertown, MO's hair follicle tests address sample integrity concerns with a tamper-resistant approach. This method significantly lowers the risk of sample adulteration, producing results that are beyond doubt. Unlike other methods, the inherent difficulty to manipulate hair samples ensures reliable outcomes each time.
Employers seeking foolproof evidence trust hair follicle testing to thwart attempts at test evasion. Its robust design guarantees unchanged samples, providing irrefutable testament to an individual's substance use. Such reliability is crucial in environments where trust and integrity are essential.
Conveniently located testing centers are available nationwide, including in Centertown, MO, making drug testing accessible and hassle-free. With a vast network, Accredited Drug Testing ensures quick and straightforward access to testing services, catering to the growing need for reliable drug testing across multiple locations.
Our strategic presence simplifies scheduling and conducting tests, reducing logistical hurdles for both employers and individuals. This widespread reach ensures that comprehensive drug testing services are always within arm's reach, delivering efficiency aligned with clients' needs.
The hair follicle drug testing process in Centertown, MO, is designed to be simple and confidential, respecting individuals' privacy through each step. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results undergoes streamlined management, fostering a user-friendly experience from start to finish.
Guaranteeing confidentiality and ease of access, the process is conceived to alleviate any concerns around privacy and complexity. This seamless approach ensures that all parties involved can proceed with assurance, making hair testing a convenient choice for many.
In Centertown, MO, hair follicle testing is aligned with competitive pricing and expeditious result delivery, offering businesses exceptional value for their investment. Affordable pricing models ensure that companies, regardless of size, can access reliable and fast testing services without incurring excessive costs.
Accredited Drug Testing prioritizes affordability and quickly processing results to aid businesses in making timely, informed decisions. This combination of cost-effectiveness and rapid turnaround reinforces trust in our services and underscores our commitment to client satisfaction.
Hair follicle drug testing in Centertown, MO, provides swift, precise, and reliable outcomes. The method's high accuracy in detecting substance use ensures results you can trust. This testing method is designed to deliver superior performance in identifying drug traces, setting new standards for drug screening processes.
Accredited Drug Testing guarantees rapid and detailed reports for hair follicle tests. The advanced technology employed in the process reveals even minimal substance exposure, fostering confidence among employers and individuals alike. The speed and comprehensive nature of results make it a preferred choice.
In Centertown, MO, hair follicle testing offers employers compliance assurance and peace of mind. By putting rigorous drug-free policies in place, organizations can reduce legal complications and uphold safety standards. The testing method aids in risk management by reinforcing policy adherence to workplace standards.
Employers leverage the reliability of hair tests to ensure a safe, compliant, and effective workplace. Knowing that employees adhere to policies rounds out an environment conducive to trust and well-being, paving the way for enhanced productivity and reduced legal liabilities.