Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of hair as it grows. Obtaining samples close to the scalp can yield a detection period of up to 90 days for substances. Hair samples are easy to collect, tricky to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp amounts to 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmatory purposes. For assays such as EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. It is best to use a jeweler's scale for precision measuring. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" strictly refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is processed into the lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning an LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening entails a preliminary cursory examination for substance abuse. While it is an economical approach to rule out drug use in the majority of cases, a positive screen must be validated for legal acceptance. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than techniques like urine or oral fluid tests, highlighting the complexity of hair drug screenings.
Confirmation of any positive results from screening is executed using methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the standards set by CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair requirement and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
In Belfry, MT, hair follicle tests clearly surpass urine tests. The superior detection period lets employers identify substance use over the past 90 days, while urine tests only cover more recent use. Hair testing’s reliability and difficulty to manipulate make it a preferred option for thorough substance checks.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Belfry, MT, is a major advantage—up to 90 days of substance history can be revealed. This long-term view is invaluable for employers, providing a detailed picture of an individual’s drug use, enhancing decision-making for employment and compliance.
In Belfry, MT, hair follicle testing is favored for its resilience against tampering. Due to its collection and analysis process, altering or diluting samples is extremely difficult. This ensures the integrity of the results, offering peace of mind in knowing the sample remains unadulterated.
Our extensive testing network across the nation, including locations in Belfry, MT, makes the process convenient and accessible. Companies and individuals benefit from easy access to hair follicle testing facilities, ensuring smooth, efficient, and local service.
The hair follicle testing process in Belfry, MT is straightforward and secure. Initiating an order, completing a test, or acquiring results are all handled with complete confidentiality, tackling privacy concerns while providing ease and comfort to all involved.
In Belfry, MT, our competitive pricing coupled with fast turnaround times for hair follicle tests ensures businesses, regardless of size, receive great value. This efficiency and cost-effectiveness bring companies peace of mind, supported by a reliable testing service.
Hair follicle testing in Belfry, MT, stands out for its exceptional precision and speed. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests process substantial past drug use data efficiently. With such accuracy, you can expect reliable detection of substances, making them a trusted choice for employers aiming to maintain drug-free environments.
Employers in Belfry, MT, find that hair follicle testing aligns with and supports compliance to a strict drug-free workplace. By reducing legal risks and improving safety through its reliable results, it aids in maintaining a clean and productive work environment.
