Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests above 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise weighing the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four key steps in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This encompasses ensuring the sample was sealed and transported properly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a quick preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be court-admissible. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is drawn from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the test itself evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Five Points outmatches traditional urine tests with superior accuracy and reliability. It boasts an extended detection period and offers a more comprehensive overview of substance use, making it a favored choice for entities prioritizing stringent drug-free policies.
With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Five Points, NC provides employers a broad insight into an individual's substance use history. This method captures long-term patterns, aiding in informed decision-making about potential hires or current employees.
Hair follicle tests in Five Points significantly reduce the risk of sample tampering, ensuring the authenticity of results. Unlike some traditional methods, they offer an unmatchable level of security against adulteration, bolstering confidence in testing outcomes.
Our widespread network of testing centers ensures convenient service access across the nation, including Five Points, NC. This nationwide availability facilitates hassle-free, efficient testing, removing logistical barriers for individuals and businesses.
The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results in Five Points, NC is straightforward and confidential. This assures test participants of their privacy and simplifies the testing experience, catering to their ease and comfort.
In Five Points, NC, we offer competitively priced hair follicle tests with rapid turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for businesses of all sizes. Our pricing structure is designed to be cost-effective without sacrificing quality and reliability.
In Five Points, NC, hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled speed and accuracy. This method ensures precise detection of substance use, setting a high standard for reliability. The process is streamlined to deliver fast results without compromising precision, making it an ideal choice for those seeking accurate outcomes.
For employers in Five Points, NC, hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It minimizes legal exposure and promotes a safer working environment, providing peace of mind and fostering a culture of trust and safety.
