Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of the hair strand capture biomarkers, offering an extended historical record of alcohol and other drugs. When gathered near the scalp, hair can potentially show a detection window reaching up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. The process of gathering hair is easy, with minimal risk of tampering, and straightforward for shipping.
A requested 1.5-inch section from about 200 strands of hair (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, additional elements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to use 150mg of the sample. Measuring the sample with a jeweler's scale is recommended. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent volume of body hair may be utilized. In this context, head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four essential stages in processing a drug test result within a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the sample's initial integration into the laboratory system. This step ensures the sample is correctly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening involves a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. As a cost-effective strategy for ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be validated for legal acceptance. Samples with a presumptive positive outcome in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Upon a presumptive positive result in the Screening step, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and arranged for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to execute.
Confirming any positive screening findings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptively positive sample undergoes washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the standards of the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Pioneer Junction, MT surpasses traditional urine tests in multiple ways. Superior detection accuracy and reliability make hair tests invaluable. While urine tests detect short-term use, hair analyses offer a broader detection window, ensuring a more truthful account of substance history.
With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Pioneer Junction, MT provides a deeper insight into an individual’s substance usage history. This prolonged observation period aids employers in understanding potential employees' long-term habits, ensuring informed hiring decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Pioneer Junction, MT significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. The robustness of the method prevents participants from influencing the results, ensuring integrity and trustworthiness in drug testing outcomes.
With convenient locations nationwide, including Pioneer Junction, MT, accessing hair follicle drug testing is hassle-free and efficient. Our expansive network ensures that finding a testing center nearby is simple, reducing wait times and enhancing accessibility for all.
The process of ordering, undertaking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Pioneer Junction, MT, is both simple and confidential. We prioritize user privacy, ensuring that individuals feel comfortable and assured throughout the testing journey.
In Pioneer Junction, MT, our hair follicle testing services boast competitive pricing structures coupled with quick turnaround times. This affordability ensures that businesses of varied sizes receive excellent value and peace of mind, without compromising on quality.
In Pioneer Junction, MT, hair follicle drug tests are known for their rapid and precise outcomes. Hair tests excel in accurately pinpointing substance use. This ensures that both employers and individuals benefit from dependable results when making crucial decisions.
For employers in Pioneer Junction, MT, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind. It not only mitigates legal risks but also fosters a secure working environment, boosting organizational morale and productivity.
