Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a highly effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeline of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair pertains to other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary procedures in the laboratory analysis of drug test results are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab's system. It entails verifying the proper sealing and transportation of the sample, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any supplementary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While it is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be legally admissible. Any samples that indicate a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
In cases where a sample indicates a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening a challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Horseheads, NY. These benefits include superior detection accuracy and reliability, making it a preferred choice.
In Horseheads, NY, hair follicle testing is valued for its extended detection window, capturing drug use history over up to 90 days. This allows employers to see a detailed substance use history.
Hair follicle tests are known for their tamper-resistant attributes in Horseheads, NY, minimizing risks of sample adulteration. This ensures that the results are both reliable and accurate.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including in Horseheads, NY, making access to testing services easy and efficient.
Our testing process in Horseheads, NY is designed to be simple and confidential, easing privacy concerns while ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Accredited Drug Testing in Horseheads, NY offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing remarkable value and reassurance to businesses of all sizes.
The hair follicle test in Horseheads, NY is known for its unmatched precision and speed, offering rapid results. Its high accuracy ensures detection of substance usage, providing crucial insights in drug testing.
Employers in Horseheads, NY benefit from hair follicle testing by guaranteed adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities and boosting safety.
