Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly valued as a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within its strands, offering a long-term profile of alcohol and drug use. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use covering approximately a 3-month period. The collection process is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.
A segment of about 1.5 inches from roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or screenings over 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale is advisable for precise weighing. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, this pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, samples are initially processed into the lab's system. This step ensures that samples were correctly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any missing data not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening efficiently eliminates drug use in many cases, positive results require confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive outcomes from Screening need a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original batch for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug analysis.
Confirmation follows any positive screen result using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing as required. The laboratory process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Rudyard, MT: Offering enhanced detection capabilities, hair testing stands out for its reliability. It surpasses urine tests by spotting drug use over extended periods, providing richer insights into substance habits.
Extended Detection Window in Rudyard, MT: Hair follicle tests provide a significant advantage with their lengthy detection window, capturing substance use up to 90 days prior, thus equipping employers and officials with comprehensive usage histories.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Rudyard, MT: Hair follicle tests are notably robust against sample manipulation, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of the results in substance testing.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Rudyard, MT: With testing centers spread across the nation, our services are accessible, straightforward, and stress-free, ensuring convenience for everyone requiring drug tests.
Simple, Confidential Process in Rudyard, MT: Our approach to hair follicle testing prioritizes simplicity while safeguarding privacy at every step, from ordering to result delivery.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Rudyard, MT: Our competitive pricing and prompt result times offer excellent value, benefiting businesses of all sizes by easing financial and operational burdens.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Rudyard, MT: The hair follicle drug test excels in precision, efficiently detecting drug usage. This test ensures superior accuracy, elevating it as a trusted method in substance screening.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Rudyard, MT: Utilizing hair follicle testing helps maintain adherence to drug-free workplace mandates, lowering legal liabilities and promoting a safer, more productive work environment.
