Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective tool for detecting substance use. Hair offers a comprehensive view of drug and alcohol use by sequestering biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 90-day detection period for substance use. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample of approximately 200 strands of hair, cut to 1.5 inches in length and close to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is optimal for screen confirmations. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding 10, it's advisable to collect 150mg. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types (facial, underarms, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug testing process in laboratories encompasses four major stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial steps of processing a sample into the laboratory’s database. This step ensures the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocates a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional information entry not handled by an electronic custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive finding must be confirmed for it to be legally valid. Samples that indicate presumptive positivity in Screening do require further confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Drugs are removed from hair at concentrations significantly lower than those in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair drug screening a more technically challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positivity are cleaned as necessary prior to the confirmation process. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", this analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Landa, ND, outshines traditional urine tests by providing superior detection accuracy and reliability. The extended detection window and tamper-proof nature make it a preferred choice over urine analysis.
Hair follicle testing in Landa, ND, has the advantage of a longer detection period, up to 90 days. This extended window offers employers a detailed view of an individual's substance use history, making it a comprehensive tool for assessing employees.
In Landa, ND, hair follicle drug tests provide a tamper-resistant solution. The testing method significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that the results are reliable and beyond question.
With numerous nationwide centers, Landa, ND benefits from the convenience of easily accessible hair follicle testing services. Our widespread presence guarantees quick and hassle-free testing experiences.
The hair follicle testing process in Landa, ND, is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and obtaining results are all handled with privacy and ease, addressing all customer concerns effectively.
In Landa, ND, hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Our cost-effective solutions provide excellent value, ensuring peace of mind and satisfaction for businesses of any size.
In Landa, ND, the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests is unparalleled. These tests offer exceptional accuracy, quickly detecting substance use, ensuring that the results are both fast and reliable.
Adopting hair follicle testing in Landa, ND, helps employers comply with drug-free policies. This reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety, providing peace of mind with simple and effective compliance measures.