Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The analysis of hair has gained recognition as an effective method in uncovering substance and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer an extensive record of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair's expanding fibers. By collecting hair near the scalp, it can offer approximately a quarter-year detection span for alcohol and other substances. Hair is uncomplicated to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
A segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches and encompassing roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, representing the suitable sample for screening and validation. For EtG, augmentations, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab procedure for generating a drug test result comprises four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s database. This encompasses confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplemental data entry not furnished by an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening involves an immediate preliminary assessment for substances of misuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly way to eliminate substance usage in most samples, court acceptance demands a positive screen to be verified. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening do necessitate an additional confirmation.
Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than through alternative means (e.g., urine or oral fluid), attributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Validation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation if required. Starting from Accessioning to Confirmation, the comprehensive laboratory process is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the actual test inspects the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing excels over traditional urine tests in Abbott, NM. The benefits include superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests can reveal substance use that urine tests might miss.
In Abbott, NM, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, tracking drug use up to 90 days. This comprehensive window allows employers to evaluate an individual's substance history more effectively.
Hair follicle testing significantly reduces adulteration risks in Abbott, NM. This robust testing method ensures reliable results, free from sample tampering.
Our nationwide and local testing centers in Abbott, NM simplify the drug testing process. We offer easy access to testing facilities across the country.
In Abbott, NM, hair follicle drug testing is both simple and confidential. Our process ensures privacy from ordering to result delivery.
In Abbott, NM, our competitive pricing and quick turnaround times set us apart. We provide quality hair follicle drug testing at great value.
Hair follicle testing in Abbott, NM, provides swift, accurate, and reliable results. Its precision in detecting substance use surpasses other methods, ensuring accurate identification of drug history.
In Abbott, NM, hair follicle testing ensures employers comply with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety.