Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a significant method for identifying use of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and substance use by securing biomarkers within the growing strand's fibers. When cut near the scalp, hair may reveal up to a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other substances. It is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch length consisting of about 200 strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp gives 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the hair on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. Head hair refers exclusively to hair on the scalp. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug usage for most samples, yet a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is collected from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is among the most challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screen is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle tests to urine tests in Atwater, OH, the benefits of hair testing become clear. Hair testing is recognized for its superior detection accuracy, providing reliable results that offer peace of mind.
Atwater, OH employers benefit significantly from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests. These tests identify drug use over a prolonged period, up to 90 days, offering crucial insights into an individual's substance use history.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Atwater, OH ensures dependable outcomes. Hair testing drastically reduces the chance of altered samples, yielding results that are difficult to dispute.
Accessible testing is easy with our nationwide presence, including locations in Atwater, OH. Convenient access to hair follicle testing is ensured, enabling quick and hassle-free service.
Our process in Atwater, OH is straightforward and secretive, catering to those seeking discretion in drug testing. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests are designed to uphold privacy and ease of use.
Our services in Atwater, OH offer affordable pricing and rapid results. We pride ourselves on our competitive pricing and swift execution, providing excellent value across various company sizes.
In Atwater, OH, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and precision. These tests are known for their high accuracy when it comes to detecting substance use.
For employers in Atwater, OH, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. These tests help companies uphold drug-free workplace policies by ensuring adherence to legal standards, which minimizes legal risks and enhances safety.
