Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective instrument for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged history of substance use by entrapping biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient to ship.
A 1.5-inch sample containing approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, equivalent body hair can be gathered. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial processing phase where a sample is recorded into a lab’s system. This step involves checking that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial rapid check for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach for eliminating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires verification for legal admissibility. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows preliminary positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation, if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Holt, MO, hair follicle testing is vastly superior to urine testing when it comes to uncovering drug use. The enhanced detection accuracy offers a clear advantage over traditional methods, especially in chronic cases.
While urine tests are commonly used, hair testing's reliability surpasses them. Their ability to detect more prolonged drug usage makes them a preferred choice among employers seeking rigorous screening methods.
Hair follicle testing in Holt, MO provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days, which is crucial for employers needing a thorough history of potential substance use.
This method allows a more expansive look at an individual's drug use, far beyond the short periods detected by other methods, offering critical insights into sustained patterns and usage.
Hair follicle tests in Holt, MO are inherently tamper-resistant. Their design minimizes the chance of adulteration, ensuring results are reliable and unquestionable.
The stringent collection process for hair samples significantly reduces risks of sample tampering, providing crucial integrity and trust in the results when compared to more vulnerable methods like urine testing.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including Holt, MO, to ensure easy and hassle-free access for everyone.
The extensive network of testing centers ensures that individuals can easily find nearby locations, promoting convenience and reducing delays in getting tested efficiently.
Ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Holt, MO is designed to be simple and confidential, safeguarding user privacy.
The streamlined approach ensures customers experience ease and assurance when navigating through the testing process, which remains confidential and user-friendly from start to finish.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Holt, MO, our hair follicle testing services promise great value and swift results.
This competitive approach, catering to companies of all sizes, ensures cost-effectiveness and quick service delivery, meeting the demands of today's business environment efficiently.
In Holt, MO, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and precision. The methodology ensures fast, accurate, and reliable results, making it a preferred choice for those who demand high accuracy in substance detection.
The advanced technology used in hair testing swiftly identifies drug presence, ensuring that the results are both timely and trust-worthy. This rapid and dependable output makes hair testing invaluable in time-sensitive scenarios.
For employers in Holt, MO, adopting hair follicle testing is synonymous with compliance and provides peace of mind in maintaining a drug-free workspace.
This testing strategy helps organizations adhere to legal workplace safety requirements while minimizing risks and enhancing overall security and wellness at the workplace.
