Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a formidable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering an extended timeline for detecting substances. When sourced near the scalp, hair samples allow for up to a three-month detection period for drugs and alcohol. Furthermore, hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp amounts to 100mg, the optimal sample amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weight is advised. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be substituted. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory's system. This process involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry that isn’t covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to rule out drug use in most samples, confirmation of a positive result is required for legal acceptability. Samples yielding presumptive positive results in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, further hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations notably lower than those in alternate methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence why hair drug testing is a complex method to execute.
Positive results in Screening undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positive are washed before confirmation as deemed necessary. The whole process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, excluding the follicle located under the skin.
In Harris Hill, NY, hair follicle testing prevails over urine tests for several reasons.
With hair follicle drug testing in Harris Hill, NY, detection spans up to 90 days.
In Harris Hill, NY, hair follicle tests are known for their tamper-resistant nature.
Convenience is a hallmark of our Harris Hill, NY testing services.
The hair follicle testing process in Harris Hill, NY is simple and confidential.
Fast turnaround times and affordable pricing define our services in Harris Hill, NY.
Hair follicle tests in Harris Hill, NY provide swift and dependable results.
Employers in Harris Hill, NY can achieve peace of mind with hair follicle testing.