Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within the fibers, offering a long-standing record of substance usage. A sample gathered close to the scalp can reveal drug or alcohol presence up to a three-month period. It's straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion comprising roughly 200 hair strands, akin to the width of a #2 pencil, close to the scalp provides 100mg—a perfect sample for screening and confirmation. For scenarios requiring EtG add-ons or panels beyond 10, a recommendation for a 150mg specimen is given. Using a jeweler’s scale for weight measurement is advised. Should scalp hair not be accessible, equivalent body hair may be used instead. When referring to head hair, the focus is on scalp hair specifically, while body hair includes all other forms (such as facial and axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory's procedure. The process ensures correct sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary additional data recording absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. It's cost-efficient and eliminates drug use in most samples, but any positive findings need confirmation to be valid in legal scenarios. Presumptively positive samples from Screening require further confirmation processes.
If Screening suggests a sample is positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug pre-extraction the most challenging approach.
Confirmation for any positive result uses techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples undergo wash processes before confirmation if required. The entire lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the hair strand, excluding the scalp's hair follicle.
Comparing hair follicle and urine tests in Newkirk, NM, reveals clear advantages. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests are standard, hair testing provides a broader, more accurate view of substance history, ensuring thorough screening.
In Newkirk, NM, the extended detection window of hair follicle testing proves invaluable. Spanning up to 90 days, it offers a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use. Employers gain a comprehensive profile that aids in making informed hiring decisions.
In Newkirk, NM, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the chances of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures results are unquestionable and trustworthy, upholding the integrity of the testing process consistently.
In Newkirk, NM, the ease of accessing hair follicle testing is supported by nationwide centers, ensuring convenience. These locations provide quick, hassle-free access to testing services, making drug screening available to everyone efficiently.
Offering a streamlined and discreet process in Newkirk, NM, hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. The system respects privacy concerns, from ordering to receiving results, ensuring ease of use and client trust throughout.
Hair follicle testing in Newkirk, NM, presents affordable pricing and swift results, providing excellent value. Companies of all sizes can appreciate the cost-effectiveness and rapid turnaround, reinforcing the practicality of this testing choice.
In Newkirk, NM, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their swift and precise results. These tests excel in detecting substance use with high accuracy, providing fast outcomes that are both reliable and informative. The method ensures that individuals can trust the results, speeding up the decision-making process.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Newkirk, NM, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering employers peace of mind. This method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety by thoroughly identifying and discouraging substance use.