Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair screening is increasingly acknowledged as an effective approach for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to three months for substances. Collection of hair is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken nearest the scalp, amounts to 100mg of hair, making it an optimal sample for assessment and verification. For EtG, additions, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the hair. If hair from the scalp is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. In our context, head hair implies scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning initiates the integration of a sample into a lab system. It involves confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While being a cost-effective means to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation to be validated in a legal context. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Upon a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid, thus making hair drug screening among the most complex methodologies.
Confirmation of positive results from Screening is performed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The laboratory process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the focus is on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Excels Over Urine Testing
Hair follicle testing in Miller City, OH provides unparalleled advantages over traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window Benefits
Miller City, OH customers value hair follicle testing for its broad detection scope, spanning up to three months.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method Advantages
Hair follicle tests minimize tampering risks in Miller City, OH.
Ease with Nationwide Testing Locations
With various centers throughout Miller City, OH, Accredited Drug Testing delivers logistical ease.
Streamlined, Confidential Process
In Miller City, OH, our hair follicle process prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality.
Affordable Pricing and Quick Turnaround
Miller City, OH enjoys competitive pricing and swift results from hair follicle tests.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
In Miller City, OH, the swiftness and meticulousness of hair follicle drug tests are highlighted.
Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind
In Miller City, OH, employing hair follicle testing for workplace drug screenings meets regulatory compliance standards.
