Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By encapsulating biomarkers within the hair's fiber structures, hair can reveal a prolonged history of substance use. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers up to a three-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and can be easily transported.
By obtaining a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, one secures 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation purposes. For assessments like EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond ten panels, it’s advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair might be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other forms (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning focuses on initially entering a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This process confirms the sample was securely sealed and transported, assigns a distinct LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any pending data input absent from an electronic custody chain system.
Screening serves as a preliminary rapid test for illicit drugs. This cost-efficient method helps eliminate drug usage in most samples, but a positive screening requires court-admissible confirmation. Any samples with potential positive results in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
For samples that test potentially positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is technically challenging.
Any positive screening results proceed to Confirmation using methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing pre-confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although colloquially known as "hair follicle tests", the procedure actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Milltown, NJ
Employers seeking comprehensive drug testing options in Milltown, NJ will find hair testing advantageous over urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Milltown, NJ
In Milltown, NJ, the extended detection capability of hair testing provides a crucial advantage.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Milltown, NJ
In Milltown, NJ, hair testing offers security in drug test results through its tamper-resistant nature.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Milltown, NJ
Our extensive network of locations simplifies drug testing processes in Milltown, NJ.
Simple, Confidential Process in Milltown, NJ
In Milltown, NJ, the hair testing process is designed to be user-friendly and discreet.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Milltown, NJ
The economic benefit of using our hair testing services in Milltown, NJ is evident through affordable rates and rapid result delivery.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Milltown, NJ
In Milltown, NJ, hair testing ensures quick identification of substance abuse, aiding employers in maintaining a drug-free environment.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Milltown, NJ
Employers in Milltown, NJ can maintain a safe environment with hair testing techniques that ensure policy compliance.