Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encases biomarkers of substances in its strands as it grows, providing an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a laboratory drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary entry of a sample into a lab's system. This process includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening comprises an initial rapid analysis to detect drugs of abuse. Even though Screening offers a budget-friendly method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal acceptability. Any samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, more hair is retrieved from the original specimen for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are pulled from hair at notably lower concentrations than possible by other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presuming positivity are cleansed prior to confirmation as appropriate. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review both under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.
In West Valley, NY, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing. Employers and authorities recognize its superior detection timeframe and reliability.
Key Advantages:
Hair follicle testing's extended detection window, up to 90 days, offers employers in West Valley, NY a thorough insight into an individual's drug history.
Extensive Monitoring:
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in West Valley, NY diminishes the risk of sample contamination, ensuring credible outcomes.
Secure Testing:
In West Valley, NY, the ease of access to national testing centers makes hair follicle assessments convenient and seamless.
Access Benefits:
Our process for hair follicle testing in West Valley, NY is simple and confidential, addressing privacy and user-friendliness concerns.
Simplified Process:
In West Valley, NY, our hair follicle testing is competitively priced, with fast results delivery ensuring peace of mind.
Cost and Value:
In West Valley, NY, hair follicle assessments provide expedient and trustworthy results, ensuring precision in detecting substance intake. With rapid processing, these tests are ideal for time-sensitive scenarios.
Benefits of Hair Testing:
Ensuring compliance with workplace drug policies, hair follicle drug testing in West Valley, NY reduces legal liabilities and promotes workplace safety.
Employer Benefits: