Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can reflect alcohol and drug use for around a three-month period. Hair is easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for analysis and validation. For additional EtG tests or panels beyond ten, a 150mg specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is suggested. If scalp hair isn’t accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Note that head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps involved in processing a hair drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first stage, where the sample is entered into the laboratory’s system. This step includes confirming the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial evaluation for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to rule out drugs in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening need further validation.
In situations where a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, extra hair is used from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower levels than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which increases the complexity of hair drug testing.
Confirmation of any presumptive positive outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All suspect samples undergo a cleansing process before confirmation, if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine drug testing in Excello, OH due to several advantages. It boasts superior detection accuracy and is more reliable in tracing drug use. This method provides comprehensive results, highlighting drug use patterns more effectively than urine tests.
Utilizing an extended detection window, hair follicle tests in Excello, OH offer insights into drug use up to 90 days prior. This extended period allows employers to assess applicants' and employees' substance history in-depth.
Hair follicle drug tests in Excello, OH are notable for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly lowering the risk of sample tampering. This method ensures dependable and authoritative test results.
With convenient nationwide testing facilities, including in Excello, OH, our services are accessible and straightforward. We ensure a seamless testing experience across varied locations, prioritizing ease and convenience for all users.
At our centers in Excello, OH, the drug testing process remains simple and confidential. This ensures privacy and ease for participants, from scheduling the test to receiving results, enhancing confidence in the procedure.
Our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround in Excello, OH make hair follicle testing an affordable and wise choice for businesses of any size. Our efficient service removes worry while delivering excellent value.
Experience the benefits of fast, accurate, and reliable hair follicle testing in Excello, OH. Our tests offer high precision in detecting substance use, leaving no room for error. The speed and efficiency make it a preferred method among many organizations.
Employers in Excello, OH gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, which guarantees compliance with workplace drug policies. This reduces legal risks and promotes a safer work environment, enhancing overall workplace wellbeing.
