Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing is recognized as an effective method to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended historical record of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period extending up to roughly three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair sampling is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hairs (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both preliminary and confirmatory testing. For EtG analysis, additional panels, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It's beneficial to measure the specimen's weight using a jeweler's scale. In cases where scalp hair is unattainable, a proportional amount of body hair can be collected. Referencing head hair specifies scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair includes all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The key stages in processing hair drug test results in a lab setting include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the sample's initial incorporation into the lab system. This phase ensures proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most cases, a positive screen result necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples with presumptive positive results during Screening must undergo further confirmation.
When screening results suggest a positive outcome, additional hair is taken from the original sample and made ready for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmed positive screening outcomes are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation where necessary. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Reasoning in Dolgeville, NY highlights why hair testing leads over urine testing.
The extended detection period of hair testing in Dolgeville, NY offers enormous advantages.
Hair follicle testing in Dolgeville, NY is notably resistant to tampering.
Accessibility is pivotal in Dolgeville, NY with our testing sites.
Conducting hair tests in Dolgeville, NY is straightforward and discreet.
In Dolgeville, NY, affordability couples with expedience.
In Dolgeville, NY, hair follicle drug testing is acclaimed for its rapid, precise outcomes. The accuracy in identifying substances is unparalleled, offering high efficacy and reliability.
Employers in Dolgeville, NY enjoy peace of mind with hair testing.