Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands, providing a substantial history of substance use. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch specimen consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analysis exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not present, a similar quantity of body hair can be utilized. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The essential phases in processing a drug test in a laboratory involve Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This phase includes confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening encompasses an initial rapid test for substances of abuse. While it is a cost-effective means of excluding drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive result in Screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is tentatively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The full lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in East Canton, OH is evident when comparing detection capabilities. Hair tests surpass traditional urine tests in accuracy and reliability, offering superior screening outcomes.
Extended Detection Window in East Canton, OH is a key benefit of hair follicle testing, with the ability to identify drug use over a prolonged period of up to 90 days. This provides employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in East Canton, OH ensures the integrity of drug test results. Hair follicle tests significantly lower the chance of sample tampering, yielding reliable results that are difficult to dispute.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in East Canton, OH offer unmatched accessibility to testing services. Our nationwide network simplifies the logistics of drug testing.
Simple, Confidential Process in East Canton, OH guarantees ease and discretion in drug testing. Our procedures are straightforward, respecting privacy and client confidentiality.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in East Canton, OH offers value and timely service for all company sizes. Our competitive pricing models and quick processing times make our testing services appealing.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in East Canton, OH are now attainable with hair follicle drug tests. Emphasizing a high level of accuracy, these tests ensure precise detection of substance use. Those seeking fast and dependable results find this testing methodology invaluable.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in East Canton, OH is achieved using hair follicle testing. It aids employers in maintaining adherence to workplace drug policies, minimizing legal exposure, and promoting a secure work environment.
