Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the structure of the growing hair shaft. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers an approximate 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, making it the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair isn't an option, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning deals with the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system. This process checks if the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might lack.
Screening represents an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening provides an economical means to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs subsequent confirmation for legal admissibility. All samples that appear positive in Screening necessitate a secondary verification.
Should a sample appear positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle embedded within the scalp.
In Lake Telemark, NJ, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests due to its extended detection period and accuracy. Hair tests are less prone to manipulation and offer a reliable detection method over standard methods.
The reliability of hair testing provides a longer detection window, capturing usage history effectively compared to urine tests, which have a shorter detection threshold.
Hair follicle testing in Lake Telemark, NJ, offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window. This approach can track substance use over a 90-day period, providing employers with a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history.
The ability to review a history of up to three months makes hair testing valuable for employers interested in understanding long-term substance use patterns rather than relying on a short-term snapshot.
In Lake Telemark, NJ, hair follicle tests offer a testing method highly resistant to tampering, significantly reducing the possibility of sample adulteration. This method provides unquestionable results.
The nature of hair testing as a tamper-resistant method ensures that it delivers reliable outcomes, safeguarding against sample manipulation, a common issue with other testing methods.
With convenient locations across Lake Telemark, NJ, and nationwide, our testing centers make accessing services quick and hassle-free. These broad locations ensure ease and flexibility for individuals and employers.
The availability of numerous testing centers is vital for ensuring that prompt and easy access is maintained, making the entire testing process efficient and straightforward.
In Lake Telemark, NJ, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step respects privacy, making the experience streamlined and secure.
Emphasizing confidentiality, the testing process maintains privacy concerns, ensuring that participants have a straightforward and confidential testing experience from start to finish.
Lake Telemark, NJ, offers hair follicle testing with affordable pricing and fast turnaround. Our competitive pricing structure ensures excellent value, catering to the needs of companies of all sizes seeking cost-effective testing solutions.
The benefit of competitive pricing and swift responses assures companies that they're receiving the best value, regardless of scale, ensuring cost-effectiveness and peace of mind.
Lake Telemark, NJ, benefits from the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests. These tests exhibit remarkable accuracy in identifying substance use, standing out for their fast and reliable results.
The comprehensive approach of hair follicle testing offers fast turnaround times, ensuring quick access to reliable substance use insights. This highly accurate form of testing captures both direct and indirect drug use efficiently.
Employers in Lake Telemark, NJ, gain peace of mind through hair follicle testing, as it ensures compliance with workplace drug policies. This method helps reduce legal liabilities and enhances the overall safety of the workplace.
By using hair tests, companies can feel secure in maintaining a drug-free environment, reducing the chance of legal issues and fostering workplace safety, aligning with policy compliance.
