Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair can chronicle prolonged exposure to alcohol and other substances by holding onto biomarkers in the hair shaft as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair alone. Body hair pertains to all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This process incorporates validating that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data input not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary rapid scan for abused drugs. While Screening offers a budget-friendly approach to ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be corroborated to be considered valid in legal contexts. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening need subsequent confirmation.
If a sample is provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and set up for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory cycle from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Champion, NE, hair follicle testing holds distinct advantages over urine testing. Superior detection accuracy is a key benefit of hair tests, providing reliable, clear results.
Hair follicle testing in Champion, NE brings the benefit of an extended detection window, offering insights into up to 90 days of substance use.
Champion, NE's hair follicle testing method minimizes risks of tampering, offering trustworthy outcomes.
Accessible and convenient, hair follicle testing is provided across nationwide centers, including those in Champion, NE. Wide network of facilities ensures quick testing services.
The hair follicle testing process in Champion, NE is confidential and straightforward. It provides a hassle-free experience while ensuring privacy.
Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnover times in Champion, NE, hair follicle testing delivers extraordinary value.
The pace and accuracy of hair follicle drug testing in Champion, NE is remarkable. Immediate results, combined with high detection precision, give a superior edge over traditional methods.
Employers in Champion, NE benefit from hair follicle testing with compliance and peace of mind.