Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug presence by retaining biomarkers within the strands as they grow. A sample taken near the scalp can reveal alcohol and drug use over a span of roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment containing approximately 200 hairs (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for testing and verification. In cases requiring EtG, additional analyses, and/or more than ten panels, a recommended specimen size is 150mg. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair is suitable. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to hair from the scalp, while body hair covers other types (face, armpits, etc.).
Process Overview
The four fundamental phases in lab processing of drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning means the initial integration of the sample into the lab’s system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening performs a rapid preliminary check for drug presence. Though Screening is an affordable method to exclude drug use from most samples, any positive result must be verified to hold up legally. Samples that test positive during Screening require subsequent verification.
If Screening suggests drug presence, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, the concentration of drugs extracted is significantly less than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which accounts for the complex nature of hair drug analysis.
Verification of any positive result from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", these tests actually examine the hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
In Hayti Heights, MO, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests by delivering superior detection accuracy and reliability. This method can uncover substance use history comprehensively in comparison to urine testing.
In Hayti Heights, MO, hair follicle testing is crucial for providing identifying drug use history over an extended period, up to 90 days. This long window gives employers insight into long-term substance habits.
Employers in Hayti Heights, MO, trust hair follicle tests because of their resilience against tampering. This sample collection method minimizes sample adulteration risk, offering authentic and dependable results.
Our testing centers in Hayti Heights, MO, as well as nationwide, ensure accessibility and convenience for necessary drug testing. This widespread availability offers hassle-free service access.
In Hayti Heights, MO, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Clients can rely on a seamless, private, and easy process for all their testing needs.
We provide hair follicle drug testing in Hayti Heights, MO, at competitive prices without sacrificing speed. Fast turnaround times ensure peace of mind while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Hair follicle drug tests in Hayti Heights, MO, are renowned for their precision and speed, offering a dependable means of detecting substance use. The high accuracy rate of these tests ensures reliable results, helping to confirm substance histories with confidence.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Hayti Heights, MO, provides employers with greater compliance assurance and workplace safety. This method aligns with drug-free policies and reduces legal complications.