Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a potent method for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair captures a prolonged history of drug and alcohol consumption by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. Hair samples collected near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol presence over a period extending up to roughly three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and effortlessly shipped.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10-panel examinations, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample is suggested. Should scalp hair be unobtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair is an acceptable alternative. References to head hair typically denote scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other hair classes (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main laboratory procedures in processing drug test results consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of samples within a lab’s system. This step involves verifying correct sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplementary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial swift assessment for drugs. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to remain viable in legal contexts. Any samples that initially test positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.
When a sample is initially deemed positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening among the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes occurs using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All initially positive samples are cleansed preceding confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory progression from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes inspection under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why does hair follicle testing outshine urine testing in Columbus, NM? Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests.
In Columbus, NM, hair follicle testing offers a notably extended detection period for drug use, as it can capture substance history over the last 90 days.
Columbus, NM's hair follicle testing is the best choice for reducing sample adulteration risk. The tamper-resistant nature of hair tests ensures that results are reliable and unquestionable.
Featuring convenient nationwide and local testing options in Columbus, NM, our services ensure flexibility and ease.
In Columbus, NM, our hair follicle testing maintains a simple and confidential process.
Offering competitive pricing and swift processing times, our services in Columbus, NM ensure affordability and quality.
The supremacy of hair follicle testing in Columbus, NM stems from its unrivaled precision and rapid results. Hair testing offers extraordinary accuracy in detecting substance use, providing confidence in results.
Employers in Columbus, NM gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. Using this method ensures alignment with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks.
