Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. If gathered near the scalp, hair can provide up to about a 3-month detection timeline for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 strands of hair (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equal amount of body hair can be obtained. In this context, head hair denotes only scalp hair. Body hair comprises all other hair types (including facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial integration of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substance misuse. Even though Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage in most cases, a confirmed positive result is necessary to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than seen in alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid testing), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why does hair follicle testing outshine urine testing in Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ? The answer lies in superior detection accuracy and heightened reliability. Hair testing demonstrates a broader detection window than traditional urine tests—ensuring higher accountability and reducing the chances of evasion by test takers.
With an extended detection period, hair follicle testing in Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, offers unique advantages. Employers gain insight into up to 90 days of a person’s substance history, crucial for assessing ongoing drug habits. Such a comprehensive timeline helps companies evaluate applicants or employees with clarity and detail usually unavailable with shorter-duration tests.
Hair follicle tests in Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, greatly mitigate the risk of interfering with sample integrity, offering tamper-resistant testing. This reliability ensures data accuracy, maintaining stakeholder trust. The robustness of these processes provides clear, indisputable outcomes, crucial for sensitive evaluations.
Serving Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, our nationwide testing facilities enable effortless and expedient drug testing services. Whether local or nationally spread, our centers promise swift and straightforward access, augmenting user convenience and minimizing logistical burdens for timely substance testing.
In Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, we prioritize a simple and confidential testing process. From initiating a test order to sample submission and result acquisition, the method ensures participant privacy and user-friendliness. These aspects alleviate common concerns, making testing a seamless experience for all involved.
Offering competitive pricing and swift result delivery, our services in Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, showcase exceptional value. Regardless of company size, our policies provide cost-effective solutions and quick turnaround times, promoting peace of mind with transparent and accessible testing services.
In Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests stand unmatched. These exams offer high accuracy in detecting substance abuse, setting them apart as the go-to choice for fast, reliable results. Their deployment ensures a comprehensive detection method, providing safety and reliability for all stakeholders involved.
Employers in Cedar Glen Lakes, NJ, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, promoting compliance with drug-free workplace protocols. Embracing this method diminishes legal exposure and fosters a safer work setting, solidifying organizational trust and security among teams and management alike.