Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol ingestion. Unlike other methods, hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When extracted near the scalp, it can reveal up to an estimated three-month usage history for drugs and alcohol. Hair sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample, consisting of roughly 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil), yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. Measuring the specimen weight with a jeweler's scale is recommended. If head hair isn’t available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The drug test laboratory processing encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the foundational processing of a sample within a lab's system. This stage ensures the sample's seal and transport integrity, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes data entry, especially if an electronic chain of custody isn’t utilized.
Screening involves an initial assessment for substance abuse. Though Screening efficiently excludes non-positive samples, a positive result requires corroboration for legal validity. Samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, further hair is sampled from the initial collection for Extraction. This step isolates drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing a challenging procedure.
The Confirmation phase for any positive screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples signaling presumptive positivity receive a cleansing pre-confirmation, as warranted. The laboratory protocol, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria alongside the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When considering drug testing in Colts Neck, NJ, hair follicle testing emerges as superior to urine tests for numerous reasons.
With hair follicle testing in Colts Neck, NJ, employers benefit from an extended detection window that might cover up to 90 days of possible drug use.
Hair follicle testing in Colts Neck, NJ, offers a tamper-resistant method for drug testing.
The convenience of nationwide testing centers, including those in Colts Neck, NJ, simplifies access to drug testing services.
Colts Neck, NJ, benefits from the straightforward and private process offered by our hair follicle testing services.
In Colts Neck, NJ, we offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for our hair follicle drug testing services.
In Colts Neck, NJ, hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its swift and accurate results. The method of using hair samples allows for precise detection of substance use, ensuring reliable outcomes.
The testing process efficiently detects various substances with a high degree of precision. Individuals undergoing this test can expect comprehensive and trustworthy findings.
For employers in Colts Neck, NJ, utilizing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
