Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as a potent means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers, hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug consumption. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol usage over an approximate 3-month period. The process of hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient for transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, containing roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), cut nearest to the scalp, yields around 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and validation. For EtG analysis, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for measurement is advised. In scenarios without available scalp hair, equivalent body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we are exclusively referencing scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, armpits, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result processing in laboratories involves four fundamental stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary phase where a sample is integrated into the laboratory’s system. This stage ensures the sample is correctly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as the initial evaluation for abusive substances. While it offers a cost-effective method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive outcome in a screen necessitates confirmation to be permissible in legal contexts. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
For samples that test positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and used in the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Positive screening outcomes are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before the confirmation as required. The whole procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is aligned with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Manorville, NY, hair follicle testing provides an edge over traditional urine testing with its superior detection capabilities. Accuracy is significantly heightened as hair testing captures drug or alcohol use over an extended period, giving a more reliable outcome.
Compared to urine tests that detect recent consumption, hair follicle testing impedes potential tactics employed to manipulate urine samples, ensuring integrity and credibility of the results.
In Manorville, NY, the advantage of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to report drug use over an extended period extending up to 90 days. This substantial detection window helps in comprehensively evaluating an individual's substance habits.
For employers, this feature offers insights into the long-term substance history of applicants or employees, aiding in informed decision-making regarding hiring or continued employment.
In Manorville, NY, hair follicle testing stands out as a tamper-resistant method, substantially reducing the possibility of sample adulteration. Its inherent structure protects against contesting the authenticity of results.
This ironclad reliability reassures those utilizing the test that the outcomes truly reflect the subject's lifestyle, reinforcing the dependability of decisions made relying on such tests.
Benefiting from both nationwide and local locations in Manorville, NY, testing services are easily accessible and convenient, ensuring swift and effective drug testing options for everyone.
Our extensive network facilitates a seamless testing process, eliminating hassle while ensuring quick access to testing services in a timely manner, valuable for both routine and emergency needs alike.
In Manorville, NY, the process of hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential, addressing concerns about privacy from ordering to obtaining results.
Protecting individual information, this testing approach guarantees both ease of use and privacy, ensuring users enjoy a hassle-free experience throughout every stage, from the initial contact to result acquisition.
Manorville, NY benefits from hair follicle testing that offers competitive pricing and expedient turnaround times, ensuring value and assurance for businesses of varied sizes.
Our pricing structures are designed to accommodate different budgets while maintaining quality, enabling companies to gain the advantage of quick and efficient results at an affordable cost.
In Manorville, NY, hair follicle drug testing assures swift and precise results, offering exceptional accuracy in detecting substance use. Due to the method's meticulousness, the likelihood of false positives is minimized.
Employing advanced technology, hair tests provide not only fast feedback but also a higher confidence level in the findings, addressing concerns over timely detection without sacrificing reliability.
For employers in Manorville, NY, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free work policies, vital for maintaining workplace safety. Using hair tests minimizes legal risks associated with unlawful substance use.
Knowing their staff are compliant brings employers peace of mind, as they can trust that their employees are aligned with company policies, fostering a secure and productive environment.