Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term record for alcohol and drugs, capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (resembling the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional procedures, and/or tests above 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. Measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale is recommended. If scalp hair is unobtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only. Body hair pertains to all other types of hair (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen within a laboratory system. This step includes ensuring the specimen was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug usage in most specimens, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admittance. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening require a further confirmation step.
If a specimen shows presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is retrieved from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp
In Oakwood, MO, hair follicle testing showcases superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests.
Hair tests detect longer usage patterns, offering a more comprehensive insight.
The reliability of hair follicle testing beats that of urine tests, as it detects substances over extended periods, making it a preferred choice for informed drug use evaluation.
Hair follicle tests in Oakwood, MO are valued for their extended detection window.
These tests detect drug use over periods up to 90 days, providing a thorough history.
This extensive timeline gives employers a clearer view of an individual's substance use history. Long-term monitoring ensures better hiring decisions.
Hair follicle testing methods in Oakwood, MO offer a tamper-resistant solution.
The difficulty in altering hair samples ensures authenticity in results.
Adulteration risks are significantly lower, providing peace of mind for both employers and employees. Reliable testing reinforces trust in workplace assessments.
Our network of testing centers ensures convenient access in Oakwood, MO and nationwide.
Testing services are hassle-free, with numerous locations available.
By providing local and national coverage, we deliver a stress-free testing experience for all.
At Oakwood, MO, our testing process remains simple and confidential.
Ordering, testing, and receiving results is streamlined, safeguarding privacy.
The straightforward approach ensures ease of use, addressing concerns about confidentiality and personal protection throughout the process.
Affordable pricing coupled with fast turnaround times defines our services in Oakwood, MO.
This value offering appeals to businesses of varied sizes.
Competitive pricing structures ensure peace of mind, making quality testing accessible to all employers promptly.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests make them a preferred choice in Oakwood, MO. The accuracy in detecting substance use is unmatched, offering dependable and quick results.
With hair follicle testing, substantial evidence of substance use is gathered promptly and reliably, ensuring high-speed outcomes that employers can trust.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Oakwood, MO ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This method reduces legal challenges while enhancing safety.
Employers find peace of mind knowing they meet industry standards effortlessly. Workplace safety benefits from reliable testing and policy adherence.
