Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has become widely regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a repository, capturing drug and alcohol biomarkers within its fibers, offering a comprehensive history of use. A sample taken near the scalp can reveal a detection period extending up to roughly 90 days for both alcohol and drugs. The collection is straightforward, it's somewhat resistant to tampering, and it can be shipped effortlessly.
A strand sample measuring 1.5 inches, numbering roughly 200 (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is the recommended amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is ideal. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is advisable. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair might be used. When we speak of head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test result encompasses the four fundamental stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the starting point, where the sample is processed into the lab's system. It includes confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug use. Though it's an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for legal admissibility. Samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate a further confirmation.
If a sample comes back as presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction stage. Drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than through other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a complex procedure.
Confirmation of any positive findings from Screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation, as required. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", this test focuses on analyzing the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Rural Hall, NC, hair follicle testing proves more advantageous than urine testing due to its superior accuracy and reliability. Companies and organizations find that hair tests minimize false negatives and provide a reliable account of substance use history. Unlike urine tests, hair tests reveal drug use over a more extended timeframe, ensuring a transparent view into an individual's habits.
Moreover, hair testing reduces the risk of deception, making it a preferred choice for businesses dedicated to upholding higher standards. In comparison to traditional urine tests, hair follicle analysis stands out as a thorough and reliable option.
One of the key strengths of hair follicle testing in Rural Hall, NC, is its extended detection window, which spans up to 90 days. This significant duration provides a comprehensive picture of an individual's substance use history, beneficial for employers seeking to hire responsibly and enforce drug-free workplace policies.
With such an extended detection period, hair tests uncover patterns of behavior that shorter-term tests like urine may miss. This in-depth understanding aids employers in making informed decisions regarding potential or current employees' reliability and safety in the workplace.
Hair follicle tests conducted in Rural Hall, NC, drastically reduce the risk of adulteration, offering a tamper-resistant method for drug testing. The nature of hair testing makes it extremely challenging for individuals to alter results, providing confidence in the data's validity.
This method of testing ensures that the results are both reliable and indisputable, giving employers the assurance they need when it comes to compliance and maintaining a drug-free environment.
Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience with numerous nationwide and local testing centers, including in Rural Hall, NC. This broad reach makes scheduling and accessing testing services quick and hassle-free.
With such a network, employers and individuals alike can experience seamless access to our reliable testing services, ensuring that the process fits smoothly into their schedules and meets their immediate needs.
In Rural Hall, NC, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to result delivery, each step prioritizes privacy, ensuring that all concerns regarding discretion are addressed effectively.
This seamless approach reassures individuals that their information is handled with the utmost care while simplifying the entire experience, making it as stress-free as possible.
Accredited Drug Testing in Rural Hall, NC, prides itself on offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. Our services are crafted to deliver exceptional value, accommodating the financial considerations of businesses of all sizes.
We aim to balance cost-effectiveness with speed and accuracy, ensuring that budgetary constraints do not compromise the quality or timeliness of results received by our clients.
Residents of Rural Hall, NC, can expect fast and precise hair follicle drug testing. Hair tests are celebrated for their reliability in identifying substance use, surpassing many traditional methods. The tests quickly deliver accurate results ensuring peace of mind for both administrators and those being tested, making them a cornerstone of efficient drug testing practices.
With Accredited Drug Testing, speed does not compromise accuracy. In fact, hair follicle testing offers a swift turnaround with impeccable results, giving companies the insights they need to maintain a secure and compliant environment.
Employers in Rural Hall, NC, benefit from the compliance and peace of mind that hair follicle testing brings. By using this method, businesses can confidently uphold drug-free policies and reduce liability risks associated with substance use in the workplace.
Implementing hair tests as a standard fosters a culture of safety and responsibility, ensuring that policies are respected and that the workplace remains a secure environment for all employees.