Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch length from roughly 200 strands of hair, similar to a #2 pencil size, near the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. The term 'head hair' pertains specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' covers all other types (including facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory process to analyze a drug test result is comprised of four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into a laboratory's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any missing information not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves conducting a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method for excluding drug use in the majority of samples, if a sample screens positive, it requires confirmation to be acceptable for legal proceedings. Presumptive positive samples in the Screening process must undergo a secondary confirmation.
When a specimen shows presumptive positivity at the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair in a significantly lower concentration than methods such as urine or oral fluid testing, highlighting why hair drug analysis is the most challenging to execute.
The Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positives undergo a wash before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is overseen per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the examination directly assesses the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Mayhill, NM, hair follicle testing far surpasses traditional urine tests in terms of detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests feature an extensive detection period, tracking substance use up to three months, compared to the narrow window of urine tests. This broad scope provides a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug habits.
Urine tests often miss recent and multiple substance uses due to their limited scope. In contrast, hair follicle tests not only detect a wider range of substances but also do so over an extended time frame. This deep dive into an individual's history makes hair testing a superior choice.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests offers a clear advantage for employers in Mayhill, NM, seeking an in-depth view of an applicant's substance use. These tests can reveal drug usage patterns over a 90-day period, unlike traditional methods limited to recent use.
This increased timeframe enables employers to make better-informed hiring decisions by evaluating long-term substance habits, reinforcing workplace safety and reliability. It gives an expansive insight that urine tests simply cannot match.
In Mayhill, NM, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests ensures trustworthy results every time. Unlike urine tests, hair samples offer no opportunity for adulteration, resulting in reliable outcomes that cannot be easily manipulated.
This integrity in testing bolsters confidence in results, ensuring that both employers and individuals receive an accurate analysis free from fraudulent interference. Such resistance to tampering underscores the importance of hair testing in critical substance monitoring scenarios.
Accredited Drug Testing extends its convenience with Nationwide and local testing facilities in Mayhill, NM. Accessing our services is simple and stress-free, ensuring that all individuals seeking testing can do so without hassle.
Our wide network ensures you have quick and easy access to our drug testing centers. This nationwide availability eliminates long wait times and complex processes, making it straightforward for clients to undergo testing efficiently and conveniently.
In Mayhill, NM, the process of ordering, taking, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is straightforward, prioritizing confidentiality. Our services ensure privacy from start to finish, alleviating concerns about personal data protection.
Simplicity is at the core of Accredited Drug Testing's offerings, ensuring that each step, from test ordering to result retrieval, is user-friendly and discreet. This focus on ease of use and privacy helps maintain client trust and satisfaction.
Competitive pricing and rapid turnaround are hallmarks of our hair follicle testing services in Mayhill, NM. We provide excellent value to companies of all sizes, ensuring financial accessibility without compromise on quality.
Our affordable testing options are paired with fast results, allowing businesses to maintain their budgets while achieving reliable results quickly. This cost-effective approach ensures peace of mind and support for optimal decision-making in workplace safety.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched in Mayhill, NM. They deliver accurate results quickly, honing in on substance use with impressive accuracy. With advanced technologies, hair tests ensure reliable detection, empowering employers to make informed decisions swiftly and confidently.
Hair testing stands as the pinnacle of drug screening with its balance of speed and exactness. It offers businesses rapid insights into potential substance issues, enhancing the overall decision-making process. The expediency and reliability of hair tests underscore their value in modern workplaces.
Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies in Mayhill, NM, is streamlined through hair follicle testing. It sharply reduces legal risks and enhances safety by presenting unquestionable substance use data over a prolonged period.
Employers leverage hair testing as it provides peace of mind and aligns with stringent regulatory standards. By opting for this method, businesses not only comply with laws but also foster a safer working environment, promoting overall workplace harmony and productivity.