Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal substance presence for roughly 3 months. It’s easy to collect, less prone to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, an ideal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test incorporates four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the process of initially entering a sample into a laboratory’s system. This includes confirming the sample was packaged and sent appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra information not covered by an electronic custody chain.
Screening is the preliminary assessment for drugs of misuse. While it’s a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive Screening needs verification to hold up in legal proceedings. Any samples appearing positive during Screening must undergo secondary verification.
If a sample appears positive in Screening, more hair is sourced from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this step, substances are drawn from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Verifying a positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 certification standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Austin, NV offers numerous advantages over traditional urine testing. Hair tests stand out due to their superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair samples provide a longer window of detection, and their use eliminates common attempts to cheat often associated with urine testing. These benefits make hair testing a preferred choice for comprehensive drug screening.
Employers in Austin, NV benefit significantly from hair follicle tests due to their extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method provides a thorough assessment of a candidate's substance use history, enabling better hiring decisions. This extended window gives a clearer view of patterns and practices over time versus shorter-term identification.
Hair follicle testing in Austin, NV provides a robust defense against tampering and adulteration. By utilizing hair, this method significantly reduces the opportunity for sample manipulation. The test's design makes it nearly impossible to alter results, ensuring reliable, unquestionable outcomes that stakeholders can trust.
In Austin, NV, and nationwide, the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's extensive network simplifies drug testing access. Our strategically located centers ensure quick, hassle-free service delivery, enhancing the overall testing process for individuals and businesses alike. This network ensures that no matter where you are, testing services are within reach.
Accredited Drug Testing in Austin, NV offers a straightforward and confidential testing process. From ordering to test-taking and receiving results, the process is streamlined to ensure privacy and ease of use. Clients can confidently access testing services, knowing their information remains secure and the process is simple to navigate.
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround are hallmarks of our services in Austin, NV. By ensuring that drug testing is affordable, we deliver excellent value alongside quick results. Companies of all sizes can take comfort in knowing that their testing needs are met economically without sacrificing speed or quality.
In Austin, NV, hair follicle drug tests excel in providing fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests boast high precision in uncovering substance use, allowing for quick and dependable outcomes. Compared to traditional testing methods, hair follicle examinations ensure that individuals' drug usage is detected with superior accuracy and speed.
Adopting hair follicle testing in Austin, NV offers employers peace of mind and compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal risks, this method enhances workplace safety and adheres to regulations. Employers can manage their workforce with confidence, knowing that their testing methods align with industry standards.
