Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month detection timeframe for substances. It is easy to collect, tricky to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp will yield 100mg, the preferred quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG extensions, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, the equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal stages in laboratory processing of a drug testing sample involve Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary inputting of a sample into a lab’s system. This process encompasses verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data not captured by an electronic chain of custody platform.
Screening represents an introductory rapid test for drug presence. Although cost-efficient for eliminating drug presence in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for courtroom admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positives at this stage require further confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the original sample and processed for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.
To confirm any positive outcome from screening, methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", but the analysis targets the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bliss, NY: Hair testing provides significant advantages over traditional urine testing methods. In Bliss, NY, the benefits are notable:
Extended Detection Window in Bliss, NY: Hair follicle testing in Bliss, NY, detects drug use over a much longer duration. This allows employers to gain insights up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bliss, NY: In Bliss, NY, hair tests stand out by minimizing the risk of sample tampering.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Bliss, NY: Enjoy the convenience of nationwide centers in Bliss, NY, for drug testing.
Simple, Confidential Process in Bliss, NY: Our process in Bliss, NY, is straightforward and discreet.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bliss, NY: Benefit from competitive prices and swift results in Bliss, NY.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bliss, NY: Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled accuracy in identifying substance use, outperforming other methods. In Bliss, NY, such tests deliver swift results with precision.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bliss, NY: Hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies in Bliss, NY.