Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use, particularly drugs and alcohol. The hair captures a historical record of these substances by incorporating biomarkers into the strands as they grow. When taken close to the scalp, hair samples offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drug use. Hair sample collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and roughly 200 strands in width (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides approximately 100mg, the ideal amount for initial screening and confirmation. For EtG and tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. It's helpful to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. In situations where scalp hair is unavailable, a proportionate quantity of body hair can be utilized. It’s important to clarify that when mentioning head hair, it exclusively pertains to scalp hair, whereas body hair covers all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The main stages in processing a drug test in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step whereby a sample is entered into the laboratory system. This process involves confirming the sample's seal and shipment integrity, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting additional data not captured by the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary check for detecting drug use. It's a cost-effective method for excluding drug use in most samples. However, a positive result from Screening necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance, requiring a secondary verification of any presumptive positives.
Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction stage. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other testing methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of performing hair drug screening.
Validation of any positive screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples testing presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO/IEC 17025 certification.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Solvay, NY, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in both accuracy and reliability. With its ability to detect drug use over a longer term, it provides superior insights than urine tests, which have a short detection window.
Hair follicle tests in Solvay, NY, provide an extended detection window, capturing substance use for up to 90 days. This offers employers a detailed understanding of an individual's past drug use patterns.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Solvay, NY, sets them apart. The test design reduces sample adulteration risk, ensuring credible and indisputable outcomes.
With convenient locations nationwide, including Solvay, NY, testing services with us are quick and accessible. Our centers ensure hassle-free processes for anyone needing hair follicle testing.
Our process for hair follicle testing in Solvay, NY, is simple and confidential. The straightforward ordering and receiving of results offers clients privacy and convenience.
Accredited Drug Testing in Solvay, NY, provides competitive pricing and swift turnaround, delivering excellent value and assurance for organizations regardless of size.
Hair follicle drug testing in Solvay, NY, is known for its speed and accuracy. These tests deliver quick and reliable results, enhancing the detection of substance use. Compared to traditional methods, hair testing offers precision in identifying both recent and past drug use.
Employers in Solvay, NY, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing that ensures adherence to drug-free policies and minimizes legal liabilities, safeguarding workplace safety.
