Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The analysis of hair has emerged as an influential means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands encapsulate a prolonged timeline of substance consumption by preserving biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can yield a detection period extending up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
Securing a sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For assessments such as EtG, additional panels, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable portion of body hair may be gathered. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug testing result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This task involves ensuring that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening signifies an initial expedient evaluation for drugs of abuse. This stage serves as a cost-effective measure to exclude drug usage in most samples; however, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be considered valid in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive samples in Screening mandate further confirmation.
When Screening suggests a sample is presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than those in alternate methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlying the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all samples deemed presumptively positive undergo washing as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests," the evaluation studies the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, surpasses traditional urine tests in several ways, offering superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Compared to urine, hair tests are less susceptible to manipulation, thus providing a more trustworthy assessment of substance use.
Hair follicle tests performed in Rancocas, NJ, boast an extended detection window, uncovering drug use up to 90 days.
This extended timeframe offers employers a detailed look at an individual's substance use history, enabling informed decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring the reliability of results.
Such resistance to adulteration secures the integrity of the test outcomes, providing peace of mind to all stakeholders.
Our widespread testing locations nationwide, including Rancocas, NJ, offer convenience and ease of access to services.
This network facilitates fast and hassle-free testing experiences for individuals and companies alike.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Rancocas, NJ, is both simple and confidential.
This straightforward approach ensures user privacy while maintaining ease and efficiency.
Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, Rancocas, NJ, hair follicle testing delivers excellent value to companies of all sizes.
This makes the testing option both affordable and timely, meeting the budgetary and operational needs of employers.
In Rancocas, NJ, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and speed. Their high accuracy makes them a preferred choice, quickly detecting substance use.
The swiftness of these tests ensures rapid results, crucial for employers who need timely information.
By employing hair follicle testing in Rancocas, NJ, employers can achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This approach not only mitigates legal risks but also bolsters workplace safety and productivity.
