Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Elk Creek, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month window for detecting both alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily shipped.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is suggested. It is advisable to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen accurately. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial sample processing within the laboratory’s system, including ensuring that the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary swift check for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient way to dismiss drug usage for most samples, any positive screening requires confirmation to be deemed admissible in court. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample screen presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests have the capacity to detect drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Harder to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often costlier than alternative drug testing options.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the testing process examines the hair strand rather than the follicle found beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Elk Creek, NE, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Not only do these tests provide superior detection accuracy, but they also deliver reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Elk Creek, NE, provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s substance history by detecting drug use for up to 90 days, far exceeding the scope of traditional testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing hair follicle tests in Elk Creek, NE, ensures sample integrity. These tests drastically minimize the chances of tampering, yielding results that are both reliable and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our numerous testing centers, including those in Elk Creek, NE, provide convenient, nationwide access, making the drug testing process quick, easy, and hassle-free.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results for hair follicle drug testing in Elk Creek, NE, is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Elk Creek, NE, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing offer excellent value and reassurance for businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The rapid, precise nature of hair follicle drug testing in Elk Creek, NE, is unmatched. These tests provide high accuracy levels for substance detection, quickly identifying any potential drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Elk Creek, NE, utilizing hair follicle testing for compliance with drug-free workplace policies enhances safety and reduces legal liabilities, offering peace of mind to employers.

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