Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests are recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a history of drug and alcohol exposure by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strands. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers around a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Obtaining hair samples is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or when tests exceed 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is preferable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unattainable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug testing procedure in a lab encompasses four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial step of entering a sample into a laboratory's records. This step includes ensuring the sample is properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry required beyond an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary evaluation for signs of drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical method for excluding drug use in many samples, any positive results need confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positives from Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lesser concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.
Any positives from Screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to Confirmation, any presumptive positives are washed as necessary. The laboratory stages from Accessioning to Confirmation are scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly labeled "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to more traditional urine tests, the benefits become clear. Whitesville, NY, employers benefit greatly from hair tests as they provide superior detection accuracy and are more difficult to manipulate. This method captures a larger timespan of potential drug use, thus enhancing reliability and trustworthiness for employers.
The advanced analytical methods used in hair follicle testing allow for a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance use history, surpassing the capabilities of standard urine tests.
The extended detection window provided by hair follicle testing in Whitesville, NY, spans up to 90 days, offering a full insight into an individual's drug history. Such an extensive period is invaluable for employers wanting a thorough examination of potential or current employees’ substance use patterns.
By using this testing method, organizations can benefit from historical drug use data that no other testing method can provide, ensuring more informed hiring and employment decisions.
In Whitesville, NY, hair follicle tests are known for their resistance to tampering. The testing method minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, thereby delivering results that are trustworthy and reliable.
This method's robustness ensures integrity in drug testing processes, offering reassurance that the results are authentic and can be relied upon for decision-making.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient access through both national and local testing centers in Whitesville, NY. This network provides easy and hassle-free testing services, ensuring that quality testing is within reach for everyone.
Our strategically located centers are designed to streamline the testing process, making it quick and user-friendly, regardless of where you are situated across the region.
In Whitesville, NY, the process for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results from hair follicle drug tests is straightforward and confidential. Clients can trust that their personal data is safeguarded throughout the testing procedure.
Our simplified approach not only assures privacy but also enhances user experience, removing complexities from the drug testing journey.
With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Whitesville, NY, delivers exceptional value. Our structure accommodates businesses of all sizes, providing financial peace of mind with swift results.
Affordable rates paired with rapid processing make our services unparalleled, ensuring that companies can keep operations running smoothly without budget concerns.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Whitesville, NY, set a high standard, offering unmatched accuracy in detecting substance use. Results are not only prompt but also reliable, providing essential data for decision-making processes.
Hair follicle drug testing boasts swift processing times without compromising the accuracy of the results. This makes them a highly dependable choice for those needing timely insights into drug usage patterns.
Employers in Whitesville, NY can achieve compliance and peace of mind using hair follicle drug testing. This ensures adherence to a drug-free workplace policy, significantly diminishing legal risks and increasing workplace safety.
By incorporating hair follicle tests into their standard practices, companies can uphold strict testing protocols, thereby maintaining high standards of workplace conduct and safety.
