Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has become regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide up to roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample with approximately 200 strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimum sample for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary steps included in processing a drug test result within a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory's system. This step encompasses validating that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid test for drugs of abuse. Although screening is a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be acceptable in legal proceedings. Samples indicated as presumptively positive during Screening require a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is deemed presumptively positive at the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to perform.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though frequently called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Palisade, NE, hair follicle testing is proving its worth over traditional urine tests. The primary advantage is its enhanced detection accuracy, capturing a more extended history of substance use. This makes hair testing exceptionally reliable, providing a more comprehensive picture compared to urine testing, which often misses recent or single instances of drug intake.
In Palisade, NE, one notable advantage of hair follicle testing is the extended detection window it offers. This testing method can trace drug usage up to 90 days, providing a thorough perspective on an individual's substance use history. Employers benefit from this comprehensive overview, gaining insights into long-term behavioral patterns that urine tests might overlook.
Hair follicle tests in Palisade, NE, stand out due to their tamper-resistant qualities. Unlike other testing methods, hair samples are difficult to adulterate, ensuring that results remain reliable and trustworthy. This robustness against tampering is a key reason why many choose hair testing, as it minimizes the risk of sample manipulation and guarantees authenticity.
Our drug testing services in Palisade, NE are supported by convenient nationwide locations. Whether local or not, access to our testing centers is straightforward, ensuring efficient and simple service delivery. This wide network guarantees hassle-free testing experiences for all users, regardless of their location, relieving the stress often associated with drug testing logistics.
The process of hair follicle testing in Palisade, NE is remarkably simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, every step is streamlined to assure privacy and ease of use. The straightforward nature of this process ensures individuals and companies alike can engage in testing without unnecessary complications, maintaining a focus on confidentiality.
In Palisade, NE, we offer affordable pricing for hair follicle testing combined with swift turnaround times. This combination offers tremendous value to companies of all sizes, ensuring budget-friendly solutions without compromising on quality or speed. Our competitive pricing structures make it easy to integrate regular testing into business practices.
Hair follicle drug tests in Palisade, NE, are known for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. Utilizing advanced analytical techniques, these tests precisely detect substance usage, aligning accurately with the most stringent requirements. The rapid turnaround times associated with hair testing contribute significantly to their growing popularity, offering a high level of dependability and precision.
For employers in Palisade, NE, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. This method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks while ensuring a safe working environment. By opting for hair testing, employers can effectively uphold their zero-tolerance policies and maintain high safety standards, reducing potential liabilities.
