Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of exposure to alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a 3-month exposure period to alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample of approximately 200 strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to collect 150mg of the sample. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core procedures involved in processing a lab drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This process ensures that the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any extra data entry not supported by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening acts as an initial quick assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical way to eliminate the possibility of drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive result must be verified to stand in court. Any samples suspected to be positive during Screening necessitate confirmation.
Should a sample prove presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of performing hair drug testing.
Confirmation for any positive screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analysis. Samples indicated as presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as appropriate. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In New Franklin, MO, hair follicle testing is increasingly proving to be superior to urine testing. The primary reason for the shift from urine to hair tests is the longer detection window and enhanced reliability. Hair testing boasts greater accuracy, making it the preferred choice among employers and other entities that prioritize stringent testing protocols.
The unbeatable advantage of hair tests over urine lies in their ability to provide a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history.
Employers in New Franklin, MO, benefit from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe allows for a thorough assessment of an individual's past substance use patterns, offering invaluable insights into their history.
Providing a broad perspective on substance use translates to informed decision-making, significantly aiding human resource departments in maintaining a drug-free work environment.
Hair follicle tests in New Franklin, MO, offer a tamper-resistant method of testing that effectively minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This method ensures the integrity and reliability of the test results.
By employing hair testing, individuals and organizations gain peace of mind from knowing that the results are dependable and shielded from potential interference, maintaining their exactitude.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide and local testing centers in New Franklin, MO, providing fast and easy access to hair follicle testing services. This widespread availability ensures that individuals and organizations can undergo testing without hassle.
Through our strategic network of centers, Accredited Drug Testing ensures accessibility and rapid service delivery for all testing needs.
The process for conducting a hair follicle test in New Franklin, MO, is both simple and confidential. From ordering the test to obtaining results, we prioritize user privacy and ease of use every step of the way.
Clients can rest assured that their information is handled discreetly, receiving the insights they need with absolute confidence in the protection of their personal data.
In New Franklin, MO, we provide affordable pricing for hair follicle testing alongside a fast turnaround for results. This ensures that businesses of all sizes can benefit from our services without compromising on quality or budget.
Our competitive structure offers unparalleled value, enhancing efficiency and peace of mind for organizations eager to maintain swift and effective testing procedures.
In New Franklin, MO, hair follicle tests are renowned for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are able to rapidly identify substance use, ensuring that users get precise outcomes without delay. The technology employed in hair testing leads to a higher accuracy rate compared to traditional testing methods.
The swift turnaround time for test results is a crucial advantage for both individuals and organizations, fostering efficiency in controlled environments.
For employers in New Franklin, MO, hair follicle testing provides compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind by minimizing legal risks. Utilizing this method helps to reinforce workplace safety and adherence to legal and corporate standards.
Adopting hair testing offers companies a safeguard against non-compliance, protecting both the organization and its employees from potential liabilities.
