Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a lengthy record of these substances, as the fibers of a growing strand preserve biomarkers. When hair samples are taken near the scalp, they can offer around a three-month detection window for both alcohol and drugs. It’s straightforward to gather hair samples, relatively hard to tamper with them, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch length containing roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the girth of a #2 pencil) at the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is an optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair only, while body hair encompasses all other types (including facial and axillary hairs, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test involves four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase of incorporating a specimen into a lab's workflow. It involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Even though Screening offers an economical approach to exclude drug usage for most samples, positive results warrant confirmation for legal admissibility. All samples with preliminary positive results necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial collection, processed for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations far lower than those used in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening a particularly challenging procedure to execute.
Affirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples showing presumptive positivity are washed before confirmation as necessary. Every step of the laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The test, often termed as "hair follicle tests", actually examines the hair strand and not the underlying hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Phoenicia, NY Hair testing offers a far-reaching detection capability compared to urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Phoenicia, NY Hair follicle testing provides a comprehensive view of substance use history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Phoenicia, NY Hair follicle tests minimize risk of sample manipulation offering substantial advantages.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Coverage in Phoenicia, NY Our testing facilities are readily reachable across the nation.
Simple, Confidential Process in Phoenicia, NY The hair testing process is designed with user convenience and privacy in mind.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Phoenicia, NY Our services are competitively priced without compromising on quality.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Phoenicia, NY Hair follicle drug tests excel in delivering prompt and precise results.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Phoenicia, NY Utilizing hair testing aligns with drug-free workplace protocols.
