Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The assessment of drug and alcohol consumption through hair testing has emerged as a potent method. Hair fibers capture biomarkers as the strand grows, offering a detailed chronology of substance use. Collected near the scalp, it provides an approximate 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other drugs. The sample is easy to acquire, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, containing about 200 hair strands comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness, gives around 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10 panels, 150mg of hair is preferable. The sample should be gauged using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be obtained. The term head hair exclusively denotes scalp hair, while body hair includes other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory drug testing process comprises four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the sample's preliminary processing within a laboratory's framework. This step ensures the sample was adequately sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any additional data requirements not addressed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial rapid examination for drug presence. While being a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage across most samples, any positive findings necessitate confirmation to hold in court. Presumptive positive samples in Screening must be verified through a secondary process.
Upon a presumptive positive result in Screening, more hair is utilized from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. This involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation for any positive Screenings is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation including compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.
Superior Detection Accuracy
Choosing hair follicle testing in Forbes, ND, ensures accuracy surpassing conventional urine tests. With a longer detection period and robustness against sample tampering, hair testing offers employers a reliable method to enforce zero-tolerance drug policies. In contrast, traditional tests can miss recent or low-frequency usage.
Extended Period of Detection
The hair follicle testing method offers an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, providing a detailed account of drug use history. This long detection span is invaluable for employers in Forbes, ND, granting a full perspective on substance use, thus promoting a safer work environment.
Guard Against Adulteration
In Forbes, ND, hair follicle testing offers unparalleled security against tampering. The methodology removes the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of results. This reduces potential legal liabilities and bolsters confidence in the testing process.
Accessible Testing Locations
Our nationwide network, including Forbes, ND, provides seamless access to hair testing facilities. This convenience ensures businesses and individuals can engage with our services effortlessly, promoting efficient drug testing processes without geographic constraints.
Confidential and Simple
Our testing process in Forbes, ND is straightforward and discreet. Ordering, conducting the test, and receiving results is designed to ensure privacy and simplicity, addressing any concerns related to confidentiality while maintaining an easy user experience.
Cost-Effective Solutions
We pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing with fast results in Forbes, ND. The combined benefit of affordability and quick turnaround provides unmatched value, making it accessible for companies of all sizes to implement effective drug testing strategies.
Fast Results
In Forbes, ND, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their rapid and precise results. Whether testing for pre-employment or random checks, hair testing offers dependable accuracy in detecting substances. Its quick outcome delivery aids in making swift decisions essential for maintaining workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies.
Ensuring Compliance
By utilizing hair follicle testing, employers in Forbes, ND can guarantee adherence to drug-free workplace regulations. This testing bolsters safety and minimizes legal exposure, offering employers peace of mind while fostering a secure and productive work environment.