Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust technique for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. The hair captures long-term biomarkers within its fibers during growth. Collected right near the scalp, hair offers insights up to a three-month period for alcohol and other drugs. Itās easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hairs (approximating the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for testing and confirming. For EtG, supplementary testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jewelerās scale to measure the specimen is suggested. If head hair is not an option, the equivalent amount of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The key phases in a laboratoryās processing of drug tests are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step where the sample is incorporated into the lab's system. This entails ensuring the sampleās seal, correct shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any leftover data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. Though itās cost-efficient for negating drug presence in most samples, a positive screening must be verified to be legally defensible. Any presumptive positives in Screening must undergo a further confirmation.
Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial batch for the Extraction phase. In this phase, substances are extracted from the hair at far lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair analysis is the most challenging to perform.
Confirmation of any positive screen is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Presumed positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as needed. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and meets the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strands instead of the scalp-embedded follicles
Hair follicle testing in CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, offers distinct advantages over urine testing. The superior detection accuracy of hair tests identifies substance use that urine tests might miss, providing a more reliable understanding of an individual's drug history.
When comparing testing methods, hair follicle tests excel in providing a broader detection timeline and are less prone to tampering compared to traditional urine tests, making them a preferred choice for comprehensive drug testing.
Hair follicle testing in CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, allows for an extended detection window of substance use. Up to 90 days of an individual's drug history can be analyzed, providing employers a detailed profile of one's past usage patterns, significantly beyond more common methods.
This prolonged detection timeline helps companies gain valuable insights into their applicants or employees, ensuring that any prior substance use is duly noted and assessed over a substantial period.
In CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant method against sample adulteration. The process eliminates the potential for sample swapping or contamination, which can occur with other types of testing. This reliability ensures unquestionable results for employers and legal entities.
The reduced risk of adulteration makes hair testing a highly credible choice. This secure method assures stakeholders of the integrity of results, bolstering trust in the process.
The availability of convenient nationwide testing centers, including CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, makes accessing hair follicle testing hassle-free. Our strategic setup ensures quick and easy access to testing services for individuals and businesses alike.
This broad network allows for smooth scheduling and timely completion of tests, enhancing convenience and efficiency across various locations.
In CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, conducting the test, and receiving results are straightforward and maintain privacy at each stage, catering to both individual and organizational needs.
The ease with which these steps are carried out addresses common concerns about privacy and simplicity, ensuring a seamless experience for all involved.
Competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing in CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, offer great value. Businesses of all sizes benefit from these economical options, obtaining quality results without breaking the budget.
The rapid delivery of results combined with cost-effective pricing structures provides assurance and satisfaction to companies managing drug testing needs efficiently.
In CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, hair follicle drug tests provide fast and accurate results. Their precision allows for high reliability in detecting substance use, surpassing many traditional methods. The exceptional accuracy of hair testing ensures thoroughness in results for both individuals and companies.
The speed at which these hair tests deliver results contributes significantly to their appeal. Compared to conventional testing methods, hair testing combines both rapid processing with high-level accuracy, offering peace of mind in quick timeframes.
Employers in CaƱada de los Alamos, NM, can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This testing method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies and reduces potential legal risks while enhancing workplace safety.
By relying on the accuracy of hair tests, companies mitigate the possibility of illicit substance use among employees, fostering a safer and more compliant working environment.