Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a robust mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair shaft. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 90-day discovery frame for alcohol and drugs. Hair procurement is straightforward, relatively challenging to falsify, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the dimension of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or when exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair specimen is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair isn't present, a comparable amount of body hair may be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug testing laboratory processing entails four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves initializing a sample into a lab's system. This process includes checking the sample’s seal and proper shipment, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient way to detect drug consumption in the bulk of samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid legally. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening mandate a secondary verification.
If a sample registers presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. This step involves deriving drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening stands as the most complex methodology to conduct.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes a review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though frequently dubbed "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp
When comparing drug testing methods in Glen Head, NY, hair follicle testing emerges superior due to its longer detection window compared to traditional urine tests. Benefits of Hair Testing:
With hair follicle testing in Glen Head, NY, employers can access a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug use up to 90 days prior.
Hair follicle tests conducted in Glen Head, NY, stand out for their robust tamper-resistant nature.
Convenience is at the heart of our operations in Glen Head, NY, with nationwide testing centers offering seamless access.
Our process in Glen Head, NY, for hair follicle testing is designed to be straightforward and secure.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Glen Head, NY, our hair follicle testing provides great value.
In Glen Head, NY, hair follicle drug tests offer exceptional precision and quick results, quickly becoming the preferred choice for detecting substance use. The accuracy of these tests ensures that every substance is reliably identified, giving peace of mind to employers and agencies.
Additionally, the speed at which results are delivered means quicker decisions can be made on staffing, contributing to a more efficient workflow.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Glen Head, NY, assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.