Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains biomarkers within the fibers as it grows, offering a comprehensive account of alcohol and drug use over time. When harvested near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.
An ideal 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp amounts to 100mg, suitable for assessment and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We encourage using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. Absence of scalp hair necessitates gathering an equivalent volume of body hair. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair, while "body hair" pertains to all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four essential steps in processing a drug test result in a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary interaction of a sample with a laboratory's system. This process confirms the sample’s integrity in sealing and transporting, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and ensures any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic custody protocol is completed.
Screening initiates a rapid inspection for drug presence. Screening is economically effective for excluding drug usage in most samples; however, a positive screen requires confirmation for court validity. Samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening mandate additional confirmation.
Presumptive positives from Screening involve further analysis; additional hair is extracted from the specimen for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug analysis one of the more challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Washing of all presumptive positive samples occurs before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes meticulous review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the subscalp hair follicle.
Hair follicle testing in Lostwood, ND, provides an edge over traditional urine tests by offering superior detection capabilities and reliability. Why does hair testing handle detection better? The collected samples present a broader scope of drug history, capturing evidence long after substances have left the bloodstream, unlike urine tests that cover a short span.
Hair follicle testing offers a distinctly prolonged detection period for drug use, typically extending up to 90 days. This allows employers in Lostwood, ND, to assess an individual’s long-term substance use history, providing a more thorough understanding of the applicant's or employee's habits and aiding in informed decision-making.
In Lostwood, ND, hair follicle tests significantly curtail opportunities for sample adulteration. The integrity of test results is preserved, offering reliable outcomes that are difficult to dispute, bolstering the confidence of organizations in maintaining drug-free environments.
The availability of convenient testing locations nationwide, including local options in Lostwood, ND, simplifies access to Accredited Drug Testing services. This network ensures that individuals and organizations receive quick, stress-free testing without logistical hurdles.
The process for hair follicle testing in Lostwood, ND, is straightforward and maintains confidentiality. From ordering to sample collection, and through to results, privacy and ease are prioritized, aligning with users' needs for discreet and uncomplicated testing experiences.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Lostwood, ND, deliver tremendous value. Organizations of all sizes benefit from our cost-effective approach, ensuring convenient and timely results that align with budgetary considerations.
In Lostwood, ND, hair follicle drug tests demonstrate unmatched accuracy and efficiency. Testing precision ensures high-speed results with minimal room for error. Reliability of hair tests stands out in detecting substances, ensuring results that help maintain safe communities and workplaces.
Employers in Lostwood, ND, gain peace of mind through compliance with workplace drug policies by conducting hair follicle testing. This ensures adherence to zero-tolerance standards, mitigates legal risks, and promotes safer work conditions, reinforcing the employer's commitment to a drug-free workplace.
