Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has been acknowledged as a significant method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair offers a prolonged record of substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When collected near the scalp, it provides a detection period of up to three months for drugs and alcohol. The collection process is straightforward, with a reduced risk of tampering, and easy for shipping.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields approximately 100mg, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be utilized. By head hair, we mean specifically scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedure for processing a drug test result in the lab comprises four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of the sample into the lab’s system. This includes ensuring that the sample was securely sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary check for substances of abuse. While this stage is cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to be legally valid. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening need a secondary confirmation.
In the event of a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a more challenging methodology.
Confirmation of a positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" often used is a misnomer as the strand itself is analyzed, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Tests Excel Over Urine Tests in Tuckahoe, NY is their unmatched
Employers opting for hair testing enjoy increased reliability in enforcing zero-tolerance policies, as these tests are challenging to tamper with, ensuring workplace compliance.
In Tuckahoe, NY, hair follicle testing provides an Extended Detection Window, capturing drug use over lengthy periods.
The extended detection timeframe of hair tests fosters in-depth understanding of substance use patterns, aiding informed decision-making.
Hair follicle tests significantly reduce tampering risks, providing clear-cut results.
These evaluations ensure unquestionable accuracy, enhancing the integrity of testing outcomes, crucial for maintaining workplace standards.
The convenience of testing in Tuckahoe, NY with nationwide accessibility is undeniable.
The process in Tuckahoe, NY is simple and confidential.
The straightforward arrangements make drug evaluation an effortless experience.
Affordable Pricing coupled with fast turnaround is a priority in Tuckahoe, NY.
Precision and Speed in Tuckahoe, NY are hallmarks of hair follicle drug evaluations. These tests deliver swift and precise results.
With hair follicle evaluations, you receive reliable insights into drug use. The methodology minimizes the chance of false positives, offering dependable information for critical decisions.
For Tuckahoe, NY employers aiming for compliance and peace of mind, hair follicle testing is invaluable.
