Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for detecting alcohol and drug usage. It offers an extended history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. Collected near the scalp, hair can deliver up to a 3-month detection span for substances. Easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward for shipping, hair samples are ideal.
A sample of 1.5 inches, around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp, provides 100mg, the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG add-ons or those over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. Head hair strictly refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result processing entails four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. It involves verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry that wasn’t handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary check for drug presence. Although it is cost-effective and can rule out drug use efficiently, a positive screen needs confirmation for court applicability. Samples giving presumptively positive results require additional confirmation.
For samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening, more hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. This step involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screen is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 certification.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.
Compared to urine testing, hair follicle testing in Spanish Lake, MO, provides a superior assurance of detection. Hair tests boast remarkable detection abilities and are unmatched in reliability. While urine tests can sometimes miss substances or be manipulated, hair follicle testing maintains higher scrutiny standards, resulting in more trustworthy outcomes. This makes it a preferred choice among employers seeking thorough drug screening processes.
One of the prime advantages of hair follicle testing in Spanish Lake, MO, is its extensive detection window. Unlike traditional methods that detect substance use for a limited time, hair tests can reveal usage up to 90 days prior. This prolonged detection capability offers employers a detailed insight into an employee's or applicant’s past behavior, supporting better-informed hiring and management decisions.
Hair follicle tests are known for their robustness against tampering, offering significant advantages in Spanish Lake, MO. By avoiding pitfalls common in traditional testing, like sample swapping or dilution, hair testing ensures that results are credible and reliable. Hair samples undergo strict handling procedures, making it extremely difficult for individuals to alter outcomes, thus preserving the integrity of the testing process.
Accredited Drug Testing boasts a network of testing locations spanning nationwide, and Spanish Lake, MO, is no exception. This extensive reach ensures that individuals and businesses can access drug testing services effortlessly and without delay. Whether locally or elsewhere, convenient access to our testing solutions means minimal disruption to personal or professional routines, reinforcing our commitment to hassle-free service.
The process of hair follicle testing in Spanish Lake, MO, remains straightforward and private. From requesting tests to receiving confidential results, every step is designed with user ease and confidentiality in mind. The submission and processing of samples are executed seamlessly, ensuring privacy is maintained, and results are communicated securely and efficiently, which instills confidence in participants about the safeguarding of their personal information.
Spanish Lake, MO, benefits from our competitively priced hair follicle testing services with fast result turnaround times. Our pricing structure is crafted to cater to varied business sizes, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on the quality or reliability of results. Quick processing times offer companies the dual advantage of effective cost management and timely access to critical drug use data.
In Spanish Lake, MO, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and accuracy in uncovering substance use. These tests efficiently deliver precise findings, ensuring that individuals and employers receive the most reliable data regarding drug or alcohol use. High accuracy is achieved as hair testing captures a wide range of substances over extended periods, delivering results promptly and with high confidence.
Employers in Spanish Lake, MO, find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, as it guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal liabilities and helps maintain a safer working environment. Adopting hair testing not only strengthens policy compliance but also reassures employers that their workforce meets the expected standards of sobriety and trustworthiness.
