Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers, hair offers a record of substance use over an extended period. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal drug or alcohol consumption for up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to cheat, and simple to send off.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, an optimal amount for tests and confirmations. For extended panels and certain add-ons like EtG, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn’t an option, a similar amount of body hair can be used. Head hair refers strictly to hair on the scalp, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial and axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory stages for processing drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the primary phase, involving the introduction of a sample into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, generates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any missing data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary drug abuse check. Although screening is a cost-effective method for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples that test positive during screening need further confirmation.
For samples showing presumptive positives in the Screening stage, additional hair from the initial sample is processed for Extraction. Extraction involves retrieving drugs from hair, typically at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), adding complexity to hair drug testing.
Confirmation of any positives during screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often used, although the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Napeague, NY: Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy over an extended period, ensuring reliable results that are difficult to dispute.
Extended Detection Window in Napeague, NY: It's evident that hair follicle testing captures drug use over a much longer timeframe, up to 90 days. This enables employers to gain a thorough understanding of an employee’s or applicant’s substance history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Napeague, NY: Hair follicle tests are known to significantly reduce the chances of sample tampering, guaranteeing reliable and unassailable results for drug testing purposes.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Napeague, NY: The availability of numerous testing centers nationwide ensures quick, easy, and convenient access to essential testing services.
Simple, Confidential Process in Napeague, NY: Our straightforward and private process for ordering, taking, and obtaining results addresses privacy concerns and offers ease of use for all involved.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Napeague, NY: Our competitive pricing models paired with rapid turnaround times provide excellent value while ensuring reassurance for companies of varied scales.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Napeague, NY: Hair follicle tests provide unprecedented precision and speed for detecting substance use. These tests offer high accuracy, granting clarity and assurance in assessing drug use situations.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Napeague, NY: Implementing hair follicle testing ensures workplace adherence to drug-free policies, minimizes legal liabilities, and boosts workplace safety, offering peace of mind for employers.
