Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a long-term record of substance intake by storing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. If collected near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, an optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. Referring to head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the laboratory process of assessing a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies that the sample is sealed and shipped accurately, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for negating drug usage in most samples, a confirmation is necessary for positive screens to be valid in legal scenarios. Any samples that screen positive presumptively must undergo further confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations relative to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening notably challenging to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are washed before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Red Rock, MT, surpasses traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests serve well for recent use, hair tests excel in revealing drug use history over a more extended period.
In Red Rock, MT, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use over 90 days. Employers benefit from this comprehensive overview, helping them to make informed decisions about employee or applicant substance use.
Hair follicle tests in Red Rock, MT, are a tamper-resistant testing method. Unlike other testing types, they significantly minimize the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that results remain trustworthy and unquestionable.
Red Rock, MT, offers convenient nationwide testing locations, ensuring easy access to hair follicle testing services. Nationwide centers provide quick, stress-free participation in drug testing for all.
The hair follicle testing process in Red Rock, MT, is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, our services prioritize privacy and user-friendliness, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and ease of use.
Red Rock, MT, offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle drug tests. Our competitive pricing and efficient processing deliver excellent value, reassuring companies of all sizes regarding cost and speed.
In Red Rock, MT, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use sets them apart from other methods, offering high accuracy and quick outcomes, making them a preferred choice for many.
In Red Rock, MT, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. This method aids in maintaining drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities, and enhancing workplace safety with accurate, reliable results.
