Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests have emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand, hair offers an extended timeline of substance usage. When sourced from near the scalp, hair can deliver a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is relatively challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for initial screening and confirmation. When testing for EtG, additional substances, or employing panels above 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key phases in laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning incorporates the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's system. This encompasses ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary swift assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening serves as an economical means to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for it to be court-admissible. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Upon a presumptive positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and made ready for Extraction. In this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at much lesser concentrations than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for why hair drug testing is one of the most intricate methods to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before proceeding to confirmation where needed. The entire laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In comparing hair follicle to urine testing in Chardon, OH, hair testing stands out for its extended detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, which typically detect substances only for a few days, hair samples can reveal drug use patterns over a longer period of up to 90 days. This prolonged window allows for a more comprehensive view of an individual's history.
Moreover, the high reliability of hair follicle testing surpasses the traditional urine tests. With its meticulous collection process, the method is resistant to typical cheating tactics encountered with urine samples. Employers can gain peace of mind knowing they are receiving genuine, untouched results.
One of the most significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Chardon, OH is its ability to identify drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This aspect gives employers a thorough understanding of an applicant's or employee's past substance habits.
The comprehensive window offered by hair testing provides a more accurate historical substance usage profile than other methods. This longer timeline allows employers to make informed decisions based on long-term patterns rather than short-term behavior.
Hair follicle testing reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring accurate and irrefutable results in Chardon, OH. Its collection process—supervised and stringent—eliminates opportunities for manipulation often seen in other testing methods.
This tamper-resistant quality inherent in hair testing protects the integrity of the results, providing confidence and trustworthiness in the findings. As a result, employers can feel assured of receiving genuine results that truly reflect an individual’s drug use history.
Accredited Drug Testing makes drug testing accessible by providing convenient nationwide locations, including centers in Chardon, OH. Quick, easy, and hassle-free access to testing services is available to meet your needs without delay.
Our network of local and national testing centers assures that you can find a testing site near you. Whether it’s for pre-employment checks or routine evaluations, our infrastructure supports efficient service delivery without the need for long commutes or extensive waits.
In Chardon, OH, the process of using our hair follicle testing services is both simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, everything is handled with the utmost discretion, ensuring privacy concerns are addressed effectively.
Our streamlined procedures guarantee ease of use, where ordering, sampling, and receiving results is straightforward. We prioritize client confidentiality, making sure that information remains private and secure throughout the entire testing journey.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Chardon, OH provide excellent value. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from competitive cost structures without compromising on quality or speed.
Whether for small enterprises or large corporations, our cost-efficient approach and rapid service delivery ensure minimal waiting time for results. These benefits contribute significantly to the overall practicality and cost-effectiveness of opting for hair follicle testing solutions.
The precision and rapid results of hair follicle drug testing offer reliability for those in Chardon, OH. Accuracy in capturing substance use is significantly higher with this method. Hair testing offers clear-cut results that employers can depend on, reducing uncertainty when screening applicants or monitoring employees.
For individuals and businesses looking for quick outcomes, hair follicle testing provides streamlined speed in processing samples. This efficiency ensures timely decision-making without compromising accuracy, an essential factor for maintaining a safe workplace environment.
By choosing hair follicle testing, employers in Chardon, OH can ensure greater compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method supports legal and regulatory adherence, minimizing risks associated with substance misuse in the workplace.
The credible results from hair tests offer peace of mind, knowing that the chosen testing procedure aligns with industry standards and secures workplace safety. Implementing such reliable drug screening procedures fosters a cooperative and responsible work environment.
