Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeframe of nearly three months for both alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 strands of hair (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp produces 100mg, which is the optimal amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, it's advisable to have 150mg of the sample. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other varieties of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a drug test result at the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a specimen within the lab system. This step ensures the sample was secured and transported correctly, allocates a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executes any remaining data entry not managed by an electronic custody system.
Screening performs a preliminary examination for drug substances. While it's a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug presence for most specimens, a positive screening result requires confirmation to be legally defensible. Specimens that test presumptively positive in Screening need a follow-up confirmation.
If a specimen shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at significantly lower levels than other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is the most challenging approach to implement.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptively positive samples undergo a wash when necessary. The comprehensive process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation benchmarks.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle within the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over urine testing in Chloride, NM. Not only does it provide a longer detection period, but it also enhances accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair analyses are less prone to being tampered with or falsified. This ensures a more comprehensive assessment of an individual's true substance use history.
Employers in Chloride, NM, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, capturing a drug use history spanning up to 90 days. This lengthy timeline allows for a comprehensive look at an applicant’s or employee’s substance habits, offering more in-depth insight than typical testing methods. Longer detection means making more informed hiring decisions.
The hair follicle drug test in Chloride, NM, is celebrated for its robustness against tampering. The process ensures that samples remain unaltered, paving the way for reliable and undeniable results. This method drastically minimizes the chances of sample contamination, thus presenting accurate and secure outcomes that employers can trust.
Chloride, NM residents enjoy unparalleled access to drug testing facilities thanks to the extensive network of nationwide testing centers. This wide reach guarantees quick and straightforward access to vital testing services wherever you’re located. For those in remote areas or larger cities, prompt testing assistance is just around the corner.
The entire testing process in Chloride, NM, is designed to be straightforward and confidential—from test ordering to result reception. It ensures that privacy concerns are addressed, allowing users an easy, worry-free experience. Keeping clients confidential throughout their journey is crucial to providing peace of mind.
Chloride, NM offers competitive hair follicle testing solutions that combine excellent pricing and fast turnaround times. Businesses, regardless of size, benefit from this affordable option without compromising quality. It’s an optimum solution ensuring excellent value, delivering assurance through speedy, accurate results.
In Chloride, NM, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and speed. This method ensures quick and accurate detection of any substance use, offering reliability that surpasses traditional tests. With hair testing, you gain access to results that are both swift and highly reliable, ensuring your peace of mind when evaluating potential or current employees.
In Chloride, NM, hair follicle testing aids employers in maintaining a drug-free workplace, ensuring compliance with company policies. It offers an extra layer of safety and minimizes legal concerns, fostering a more secure environment. The enhanced accuracy and unbeatable detection periods stifle drug misuse, bringing employers immeasurable peace of mind.
