Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The utilization of hair sampling has emerged as an effective approach to uncover drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When collected near the scalp, hair offers up to a roughly 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearby the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels above 10, 150mg of the sample is preferred. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advisable. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a proportional quantity of body hair is acceptable. The term "head hair" signifies only the hair on the scalp. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal stages in the lab processing for drug test outcomes include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning signifies the initial sample processing into the lab's system. This stage involves ensuring the sample’s seal and proper shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening consists of a preliminary rapid examination for illicit substances. Despite being a cost-effective method to exclude substance use in most samples, a positive screen mandates validation for court admission. Any samples assumed positive in Screening require additional confirmation.
Should Screening estimate a positive outcome, extra hair is taken from the original sample and set for Extraction, a process where drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations contrasted with other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate methodology.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are employed for confirming any positive screening results. All samples initially indicated as positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab operation from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is commonly used, but the examination pertains to the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
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