Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive historical record of alcohol and drug intake by incorporating biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair. When cut near the head, hair can present roughly a 90-day period for detecting alcohol and drug use. It is easy to gather, fairly resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil in width) from near the head equates to 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample weight. If head hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, underarm).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis for a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The Accessioning step involves integrating a sample into the lab’s system. It includes confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substances of misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug consumption in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is required for legal admissibility. Samples that indicate a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo additional confirmation.
In the event that a sample is assumed positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is gathered from the original sample and processed for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than with other methods (such as urine or saliva), which is why hair analysis is particularly challenging.
Any positive screening outcomes are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation when necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated following CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing is superior to urine testing in Great Neck Plaza, NY, due to its enhanced detection capabilities.
Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window in Great Neck Plaza, NY. Employers benefit from a comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history.
Hair follicle tests offer significant protection against sample tampering in Great Neck Plaza, NY.
Convenience is key with widespread testing centers available in Great Neck Plaza, NY. Nationwide, our locations provide accessible, quick, and hassle-free drug testing services.
In Great Neck Plaza, NY, the process for conducting hair follicle tests is simple and discreet.
Hair follicle testing in Great Neck Plaza, NY, offers affordable and quick solutions.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing in Great Neck Plaza, NY, are unparalleled. Hair tests are adept at identifying substance use with remarkable speed and accuracy.
Hair follicle testing in Great Neck Plaza, NY, offers employers the confidence to enforce drug-free workplace policies.
