Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the structure of the hair strand. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, added tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four critical phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab's database. This process verifies that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not provided by an electronic custody chain system.
Screening performs an initial rapid test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective means to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in court. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening need a follow-up confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other procedures (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug screening is the most challenging procedure to conduct.
Confirmation for any positive screening outputs is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand and not the underlying follicle beneath the scalp.
In Liberty Center, OH, hair follicle testing is often preferred over urine tests due to its superior detection and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing can reveal a comprehensive history of substance use, providing unmatched insight into an individual’s habits.
Hair tests, unlike traditional urine tests, offer greater precision and are difficult to manipulate, ensuring more trustworthy outcomes for employers and professionals alike.
In Liberty Center, OH, hair follicle testing excels with its extended detection window, effectively capturing drug use data for up to 90 days. This broader timeframe supplies employers with a detailed view of an individual’s substance use habits.
The hair test's ability to track drug intake over an extended period far surpasses shorter-window urine tests, leading to more comprehensive assessments.
In Liberty Center, OH, hair follicle tests ensure a high level of tamper resistance, minimizing the potential for sample adulteration and delivering robust, verifiable results.
This method's stringent collection process supports reliable drug testing outcomes, safeguarding against attempts to alter or manipulate samples.
Residents and employers in Liberty Center, OH benefit from convenient testing access thanks to our widespread network of testing centers. Whether local or nationwide, finding a nearby facility is straightforward, ensuring easy and swift service.
This comprehensive network supports Liberty Center's community with practical solutions for all testing needs.
The hair follicle testing process in Liberty Center, OH, is both simple and confidential, focusing on user-friendly ordering, testing, and results retrieval.
Privacy is paramount, and the entire process is designed to address any confidentiality concerns users might have, delivering results securely and efficiently.
In Liberty Center, OH, we offer competitive pricing on hair follicle testing, paired with rapid turnaround times, delivering exceptional value across businesses of any size.
Our commitment to affordability does not compromise service quality or test precision, providing organizations with peace of mind and cost-effective solutions.
In Liberty Center, OH, hair follicle drug tests offer matchless precision, rapidly and reliably revealing substance use patterns. Thanks to their advanced detection capabilities, these tests boast significant accuracy, helping institutions and individuals make informed decisions.
The swift turnaround of hair follicle testing ensures that results are delivered efficiently, aiding employers and legal entities in maintaining rigorous standards.
Employers in Liberty Center, OH, gain assurance and compliance using hair follicle testing, a method that upholds drug-free workplace policies and reduces legal exposure.
Adopting hair testing promotes a safe working environment, underscored by the reliability and legal defensibility of the results, promoting peace of mind for employers.