Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for discovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer a prolonged timeline of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair samples can indicate substance use within a roughly 3-month timeframe. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to send.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for screening and confirming results. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler's scale to measure the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not present, an equal quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test comprises four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage where a sample is incorporated into a laboratory's system, verifying proper sealing and shipment, assigning an LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is economical for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Any samples that show potential positives in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
For samples indicated as positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While they are often dubbed "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Gorman, NC, hair follicle tests outshine traditional urine tests due to their increased detection reliability and accuracy.
Benefits include:
Hair follicle tests offer an unrivaled detection range, capturing drug use over a span of up to 90 days in Gorman, NC.
This extended window enables employers to gain a clearer understanding of an individual's substance use history, beyond just recent activities.
In Gorman, NC, the hair follicle test provides a tamper-resistant drug testing method, significantly lowering risks of sample interference. Its design makes manipulation exceedingly difficult, ensuring the results are reliable and unquestionable. This fact alone gives professionals, employers, and institutions confidence in their testing outcomes.
Our testing centers provide Gorman, NC residents with convenient access, ensuring comprehensive coverage nationwide for hassle-free testing.
With numerous locations, testing is not only widespread but also prompt, offering unparalleled convenience for individuals and businesses alike.
Enjoy a straightforward and private process for hair follicle testing in Gorman, NC. Here's how it works:
Gorman, NC companies benefit from competitive pricing and swift turnaround in our hair follicle testing services.
Effective cost structures coupled with rapid results mean businesses can maintain safety without straining their budgets, gaining excellent value in return.
Through hair follicle drug testing, individuals in Gorman, NC, benefit from quick, precise, and trustworthy outcomes. This testing method stands out for its exceptional accuracy in identifying substance use.
The hair follicle approach ensures that results are not only swift but also incredibly precise, providing peace of mind when addressing drug use concerns.
Employers in Gorman, NC find peace of mind using hair follicle testing, as it upholds compliance with drug-free workplace regulations.
This method enhances workplace security, reducing potential legal challenges and supporting a safer, more compliant environment.
