Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair chronicles a long-term record of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand’s fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers up to a roughly 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising about 200 strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation procedures. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels beyond 10, it is advisable to collect 150mg. Using a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is suggested. In instances where scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. When referencing head hair, we strictly mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
In the laboratory, processing a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s system, which includes ensuring proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any ancillary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-effective means to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumed positive in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample test presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is the most demanding methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing as deemed necessary prior to confirmation. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test targets the hair strand, excluding the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers superior detection capabilities in Bloomfield, NM when compared to traditional urine testing. The benefits are clear:
Unlike urine tests, hair follicle analysis provides a comprehensive overview of substance use history, ensuring higher accuracy and reducing the likelihood of false negatives. This offers a more complete insight into an individual’s habits.
In Bloomfield, NM, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a key advantage. It detects substances over a much longer period of up to 90 days. This feature offers employers a thorough insight into an applicant or employee's past substance use.
This longer detection period enables employers to make more informed hiring decisions, providing a more complete picture than shorter span tests like urine analysis.
Hair follicle testing in Bloomfield, NM offers a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces risks of sample adulteration. This testing provides:
The integrity of hair tests prevents manipulation, offering businesses and legal entities the confidence of authentic results. As such, the risks of tampering encountered in other testing methods are minimized.
With convenient nationwide testing centers, including facilities in Bloomfield, NM, accessing hair follicle testing is quick and straightforward. Our extensive network ensures:
The expansive reach of our testing locations means clients benefit from fast and efficient services, no matter where they are, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum convenience.
In Bloomfield, NM, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. This ensures they protect privacy while maintaining ease of use:
The straightforward and private nature of the hair testing process reassures individuals and businesses of both ease and discretion, safeguarding personal information and business interests.
Bloomfield, NM boasts competitive pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle drug tests. This offers excellent value:
Companies, regardless of size, benefit from affordability coupled with the fast delivery of results, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to implement reliable and efficient drug screening solutions.
In Bloomfield, NM, hair follicle drug testing stands out for delivering quick, precise, and trustworthy results. This method ensures high accuracy in the detection of substances, making it reliable for crucial determinations.
When time is of the essence, the speed at which hair tests deliver accurate results is unmatched. Businesses and individuals can rely on the efficiency of this testing method, ensuring timely and informed decisions.
For Bloomfield, NM employers, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities while enhancing safety. This method provides:
Employers can be confident in maintaining a secure workspace, avoiding potential legal challenges associated with improper drug testing methods, and fostering a culture of compliance and safety.