Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair structure retains a historical profile of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within its strands during growth. Hair specimens taken near the scalp afford approximately a 3-month timeframe for detecting substances such as alcohol and various drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is relatively challenging, and transport is uncomplicated.
A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable in diameter to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred amount for evaluation and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or panels exceeding ten, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing. Should scalp hair be unobtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it solely pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory progression of a drug test result involves key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning incorporates the foundational steps of integrating a specimen into the laboratory workflow. This phase checks that the specimen was properly sealed and transported, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and concludes any supplementary data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse indicators. This preliminary screening efficiently eliminates drug consumption in numerous cases; however, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal consideration. Samples that show a presumptive positive outcome in Screening demand further validation.
If a sample is found presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are teased out from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or saliva), underscoring the complexity of hair drug analysis.
Verification of any positive Screening indication is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples, deemed as presumptively positive, undergo washing before affirmation as needed. The comprehensive lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, ensuring adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," the method examines the hair itself, not the underlying follicle.
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