Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term record of substances like alcohol by trapping biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection history of up to around 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, it's somewhat resistant to tampering, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the ideal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a proportional amount of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we mean exclusively scalp hair. Body hair includes other hair types (facial, axillary, and so on).
Process Overview
The primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning begins the sample's integration into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and any necessary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system is completed.
Screening performs an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is economical for eliminating drug use in many cases, a result must be confirmed positive to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening proceed to a secondary confirmation.
For samples that test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method.
Confirmation of any positive screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed as needed before confirmation. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen following both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", this analysis examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
The reasons why hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in Sofia, NM are numerous. Hair testing shows superior detection and reliability. It monitors for a longer period, giving a true picture of substance usage.
In Sofia, NM, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use over 90 days. This span surpasses traditional tests, allowing employers meticulous scrutiny of a substance history.
Hair follicle testing in Sofia, NM, is virtually tamper-resistant. This form of testing greatly reduces sample adulteration risks.
Operating in Sofia, NM, our conveniently located centers ensure hassle-free testing nationwide. The proximity of these centers within and outside Sofia allows immediate access to testing solutions.
In Sofia, NM, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results are straightforward and respect privacy concerns.
Affordable pricing and quick turnaround characterize our services in Sofia, NM. Our competitive pricing and fast results delivery provide outstanding value.
Sofia, NM boasts fast, precise, and trustworthy hair follicle drug testing. Hair tests efficiently detect substance use thanks to their high precision.
Unlike traditional methods, these tests are comprehensive, delivering accurate results swiftly.
For employers in Sofia, NM, hair follicle testing provides peace of mind with assured compliance to drug-free work environments. By minimizing legal risks and increasing safety, such testing is a valuable resource.
