Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now embraced as a potent means for uncovering drug and alcohol exposure. Hair captures a long-term record of substances by holding biomarkers within the hair fibers as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair offers nearly a quarter-year window for tracking alcohol and drug presence. It's straightforward to gather, somewhat tough to tamper with, and simple to send.
A 1.5-inch lock of about 200 hair strands (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for evaluation and validation. For EtG, supplemental tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is ideal. It's advisable to verify the specimen's weight using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair solely. Body hair represents all other hair kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Steps
The core phases in lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial input of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This ensures the sample was correctly sealed and sent, gives it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any additional details that might be left out by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While it economically helps to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive result from Screening mandates confirmation to be legally binding. Any samples that test positive in Screening call for further confirmation.
Should a sample indicate a positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair from the original specimen is prepped for Extraction. This involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration than employed in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive result from screening happens through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All suspected positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Merits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Reminder: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Brady, MT, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair testing can unveil historical substance use with greater accuracy and reliability. Employers benefit from longer-term insight into an individual's substance history, ensuring adherence to workplace policies without the challenges faced with urine sample collection and potential adulteration.
Hair follicle testing in Brady, MT provides an extended detection window up to 90 days, making it an indispensable tool for employers seeking to understand an individual's long-term substance use history. Such a comprehensive view assists employers in making informed hiring decisions, promoting a drug-free work environment, and enhancing overall safety standards within the workplace.
In Brady, MT, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing significantly reduces the possibility of sample tampering, ensuring reliability in drug screening. With this method, the challenges of sample adulteration prevalent in other testing types, like urine tests, are greatly minimized. This provides employers and legal authorities with confidence in the accuracy and dependability of results.
Brady, MT benefits from a network of nationwide and local testing centers that provide easy access to hair follicle drug testing. These centers ensure that individuals and employers can conveniently engage with testing services without unnecessary delays or complications, streamlining the testing process and supporting quick and efficient service.
In Brady, MT, the process for hair follicle drug testing is both simple and confidential. Ordering, taking tests, and receiving results are streamlined to ensure privacy and ease of use. This process alleviates concerns about confidentiality, making it suitable for individuals and employers seeking a straightforward and discreet approach to drug testing.
Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Brady, MT make hair follicle testing an attractive option for companies of varying sizes. Its competitive pricing structure combined with efficient result delivery ensures businesses receive excellent value, helping them maintain a cost-effective approach to workplace drug screening without sacrificing quality.
Brady, MT offers hair follicle drug testing delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests excel in precision and speed, providing high accuracy in detecting substances. Results are available in a timely manner, ensuring employers and individuals have the information they need quickly. This makes hair testing a superior choice over traditional methods, offering clarity in substance use detection.
Employers in Brady, MT find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, which aids in adhering to workplace drug-free policies. This method of testing helps mitigate legal risks and reinforces a safe working environment. By ensuring compliance, employers can focus on maintaining a productive and drug-free workplace, securing both employee well-being and operational integrity.
