Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a vital method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the evolving hair. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a three-month timeframe for drug and alcohol detection. Hair collection is easy, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch length of around 200 hairs (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg, the ideal quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or over 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is advised. It is recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. Scalp hair refers solely to head hair, while body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core steps in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into the lab’s process. This verifies the sample was securely sealed and delivered, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening provides an initial assessment for drug presence. While Screening is an economical method to establish the absence of drugs in most cases, a positive result must be confirmed for legal validity. Samples deemed presumptively positive require secondary confirmation.
In cases of preliminary positive results during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for further Extraction. At this point, drugs are detached from hair at a notably lower concentration than alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting hair drug screening as the most challenging methodology.
Verification of any positive Screening outcome is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive specimens are pre-washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the investigation actually examines the hair strand, not the scalp-based hair follicle.
Comparing hair follicle testing to urine testing in Stallings, NC reveals distinctive advantages in accuracy and reliability. Hair testing surpasses urine tests by presenting an unbroken detection timeline, making it a preferred choice for extended monitoring.
The appeal of hair follicle testing in Stallings, NC lies in its remarkable detection window, spanning up to 90 days. Such an expansive period provides employers with an encompassing view of an individual's substance use history.
Hair follicle tests in Stallings, NC offer a robust answer to the issue of tampering, drastically decreasing the probability of sample alteration. Such tests ensure trustworthy results that are nearly impossible to question.
With numerous testing centers nationwide and in Stallings, NC, accessing hair follicle testing services is both convenient and efficient. Our locations guarantee a straightforward and smooth testing experience.
Within Stallings, NC, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential. It's crafted to ensure that individuals feel secure throughout.
In Stallings, NC, we offer competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing, providing excellent value without sacrificing quality.
In Stallings, NC, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its swift and dependable results, setting a new benchmark for accuracy. The test efficiently and accurately pinpoints substance misuse, offering rapid turnaround without compromising reliability.
In Stallings, NC, hair follicle testing is pivotal for businesses aiming to comply with drug-free policies, safeguarding against legal issues and promoting workplace safety.
