Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Georgetown, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair offers a chronological record of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month span of alcohol and drug exposure. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and easy to transport.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing and confirmation. For EtG, ancillary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be sampled. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other hair types (beard, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The key procedures in the lab processing of a drug test result consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system, which includes verifying the sample is sealed and correctly shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a primary quick assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive screening result must be authenticated to be valid for legal proceedings. Samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

In instances where a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than via other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is a more complex procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinezed according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to falsifying results: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, increasing result accuracy.
• Gives historical insight: It can trace a pattern of drug use over an extended timeframe, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternate drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair root beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Surpasses Urine Tests in Georgetown, OH emphasizes the effectiveness of hair analysis over traditional urine tests.
Hair testing excels with higher detection accuracy and reliability, providing superior insights into substance use history compared to urine tests. With a longer detection window, hair testing offers an unmatched advantage.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Georgetown, OH offers insight into an individual's substance history over a prolonged period of up to 90 days.
Employers gain a comprehensive understanding of an applicant or employee's drug use with hair testing, which extends the detection window, offering a broader view compared to other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Georgetown, OH decreases the likelihood of sample manipulation, ensuring the integrity of test results.
Hair follicle tests provide reliable and undeniable results, significantly minimizing the risk of adulteration compared to other testing techniques.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Georgetown, OH guarantees easy access to services at Nationwide centers.
Our testing facilities offer quick, straightforward, and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing, making the process as convenient as possible with ample local and national locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process in Georgetown, OH simplifies testing while protecting privacy concerns.
The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair test results is straightforward and confidential, assuring users of privacy and convenience throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Quick Results in Georgetown, OH emphasize competitive pricing with rapid turnaround times.
Companies of all sizes benefit from cost-effective solutions and fast results, underscoring value and peace of mind with our hair follicle testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Hair Follicle Testing in Georgetown, OH offers unmatched precision in detecting drug use, providing reliable insights. Hair testing delivers speedy results, efficiently pinpointing substance use with exceptional accuracy.
Hair follicle tests outperform other methods by providing fast and precise results, showcasing superior detection capabilities in substance identification.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Georgetown, OH is assured through hair follicle testing, reducing legal risks and increasing workplace safety.
Adhering to workplace drug-free policies is streamlined with hair testing, providing employers with peace of mind and compliance assurance.

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