Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained popularity as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by preserving biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair may provide nearly a 3-month span for detecting alcohol and substance usage. Collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately matching the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. We suggest utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair might be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we explicitly mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial engagement of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This process involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra information absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary evaluation for any abuse of drugs. Although it is a cost-effective strategy to exclude drug use in the majority of cases, a positive screen mandates verification for legal admissibility. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening demand secondary confirmation.
In instances of presumptive positives during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as required. The comprehensive laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the evaluation focuses on analyzing the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Ralston, NE, hair follicle tests outperform urine tests in several ways. Hair testing offers superior detection periods and accuracy over time.
Hair follicle tests in Ralston, NE are valued for their extensive detection window, uncovering drug use history up to 90 days. This long-term view is beneficial for employers needing a detailed substance history.
Offering a tamper-resistant method, hair follicle tests in Ralston, NE greatly reduce the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures results are definitive and trustworthy.
Our network of testing facilities across the nation offers convenience, including prime access points in Ralston, NE. Quick, easy, and hassle-free testing is now accessible.
In Ralston, NE, hair follicle testing is carried out through a seamless and confidential process. This addresses privacy concerns, providing peace of mind.
Ralston, NE offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround on hair follicle tests. Our services deliver value without sacrifice to quality.
The accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Ralston, NE ensure that results are not only swift but precise. This type of testing is recognized for its high accuracy, clearly detecting substance use.
Hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Ralston, NE. For employers, this means reduced legal risks and a safer work environment.
