Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair strands preserve a long-term record of alcohol and various drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as hair grows. If collected near the scalp, hair analysis can offer roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for initial testing and verification. For EtG, extra tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advised. It's recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory drug test result processing involves four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the entry of a sample into the lab's system. This step verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. Despite being a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require additional confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging method to perform.
Confirmation of a positive screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes assessment under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand rather than the hair follicle under the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in East Laurinburg, NC, it's clear that hair testing has the edge. Superior detection capabilities make hair tests more reliable, offering insights that urine tests simply cannot match.
A significant benefit of hair testing is its extensive detection window, allowing it to capture a broader picture of an individual's drug history over months rather than days, as is the case with urine tests.
Employers in East Laurinburg, NC, appreciate hair follicle tests for their extended detection window. Spanning up to 90 days, these tests provide comprehensive insights into an individual's drug use history, surpassing the limited scope of short-term tests.
This long-term detection capability is invaluable for employers aiming to evaluate consistent patterns of substance use, offering a reliable basis for hiring and retention decisions.
Hair follicle drug tests in East Laurinburg, NC, present a tamper-resistant option, significantly minimizing the risk of sample tampering. This test provides results that are both reliable and indisputable.
The meticulous collection process helps maintain the integrity of the sample, reducing the potential for contamination and ensuring authenticity and accuracy in the results.
East Laurinburg, NC, boasts of convenient testing locations nationwide, offering quick and seamless access to hair follicle tests. Hassle-free testing services ensure individuals can easily meet testing requirements without disruption.
These strategically placed local and national centers guarantee accessibility, making drug testing an effortless process for both employees and employers alike.
In East Laurinburg, NC, the process for hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, administering, and receiving results is streamlined to ensure privacy and ease of use.
Participants can expect a discreet and straightforward experience, with procedures tailored to protect individual confidentiality and ensure comfort throughout the testing process.
Affordable pricing models and fast turnaround times are hallmarks of the hair follicle testing services in East Laurinburg, NC. These cost-effective options provide businesses with excellent value, regardless of size.
With competitive rates and efficient processing, companies benefit from both financial savings and quick results, supporting swift decision-making and operational efficiency.
In East Laurinburg, NC, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and efficiency. Fast and accurate, these tests are designed to detect substance use with unparalleled reliability. They ensure that employers receive timely and trustworthy results.
The reliability of hair follicle drug tests lies in their ability to provide high accuracy in detecting drug usage. This allows for confident decision-making processes and enhances the assurance in the leadership and management systems.
In East Laurinburg, NC, hair follicle testing supports workplace compliance with drug-free policies. By implementing these tests, employers can safeguard their operations from legal issues, ensuring a safer work environment.
Employers gain peace of mind knowing that their testing methods effectively enforce company policies while also promoting a drug-free and healthy workplace atmosphere.
