Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Utilizing hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means to identify alcohol and drug usage. Hair offers a prolonged record of substance consumption by encasing biomarkers within the strands. When gathered near the scalp, it can yield a detection period of nearly three months for substances such as alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, it's relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the dimensions of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp furnishes 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample measure for both initial screening and subsequent confirmation. It's advised to have 150mg of the specimen for EtG, supplementary tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair might be used. 'Head hair' refers exclusively to scalp hair. Conversely, 'body hair' encompasses hair from different areas of the body (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for drug testing encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory's system. It consists of ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is the preliminary step for detecting drugs. While it offers a cost-effective check to exclude drug use for the majority of samples, a positive result from the screening requires confirmation to be legally valid. All samples with a presumptive positive result during the screening mandate secondary authentication.
If a sample tests presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine, oral fluids), which makes hair drug testing the most challenging to execute.
Positive screening outcomes are verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples reported as presumptively positive undergo washing as needed before confirmation. The entire procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the guidelines of the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, along with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being popularly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.
Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests because of its extended detection period and unparalleled reliability. In Minerva, OH, this testing method can detect drug use for up to 90 days, far surpassing the standard urine test duration. Employers seeking thorough insights into an applicant's substance history often prefer hair tests for their accuracy and comprehensive results.
Choosing hair follicle testing over urine tests provides several advantages, especially for zero-tolerance workplaces. The observed collection process ensures integrity, eliminating the risk of sample tampering. In Minerva, OH, this means employers receive dependable and accurate results, reinforcing their commitment to a drug-free environment.
Hair follicle testing offers a comprehensive detection window of up to 90 days in Minerva, OH. This extended period allows employers to get a full picture of an individual's substance use history, well beyond the capabilities of other testing methods. This attribute is particularly beneficial for those implementing stringent drug-free policies, as it ensures thorough scrutiny and informed decision-making.
By capturing drug use over a three-month span, hair testing provides employers with an accurate assessment of an employee's or applicant's behavior. In Minerva, OH, this long window of detection is invaluable for employers aiming to foster a safe and productive work environment free from the risks associated with illicit substance use.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Minerva, OH, means businesses can rely on genuine and unaltered results. Unlike other testing methods vulnerable to tampering, hair tests are collected in an observed manner, reducing the risk of sample adulteration significantly.
Hair follicle testing offers peace of mind through its rigorous and robust collection processes. For businesses in Minerva, OH, this means obtaining drug test results that are reliable and defensible, reinforcing the authenticity of their drug testing efforts and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
With readily accessible testing centers in Minerva, OH, and nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience for all. These widespread locations guarantee that individuals and businesses can access testing services quickly and without hassle, eliminating geographical barriers that might impede timely drug testing.
Our expansive network simplifies the process of scheduling and completing tests. Local and readily available locations mean that in Minerva, OH, obtaining a reliable hair follicle test is straightforward, enabling businesses to address their testing needs efficiently and without delay.
The simple and confidential process employed in Minerva, OH, for ordering and conducting hair follicle tests emphasizes user privacy and ease of use. From setting up a test to receiving results, Accredited Drug Testing ensures each step is straightforward, alleviating concerns about process complexity.
Our discreet testing procedure in Minerva, OH, prioritizes privacy, ensuring that personal information is guarded. This commitment to confidentiality reassures individuals of their privacy, while the intuitive process means results are obtained without complicated procedures, offering a seamless testing experience.
Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing structures in Minerva, OH, while maintaining fast turnaround times for hair follicle tests. This balance ensures companies of all sizes can benefit from our high-quality testing services without straining their budgets.
The value offered by our competitive pricing allows businesses to incorporate regular drug testing into their operational strategy with ease. In Minerva, OH, achieving peace of mind comes at a sustainable cost, aided by prompt results delivery that supports timely decision-making.
In Minerva, OH, hair follicle drug testing ensures fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are known for their superior precision, ensuring that substance use is detected with high accuracy. This efficiency in the testing process means that results are delivered quickly without compromising integrity, giving businesses confidence in their employment screening procedures.
The unmatched accuracy of hair follicle testing in Minerva is complemented by its quick turnaround times. Unlike other methods, these tests do not face delays, ensuring timely identification of drug use. With this efficient testing, businesses maintain a high standard of workplace safety by accurately identifying any potential substance abuse issues promptly.
For employers in Minerva, OH, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety standards and reducing legal risks. The accurate detection and reliability of results guarantee adherence to regulations, providing a buffer against potential legal challenges.
By implementing hair testing, businesses in Minerva can consistently enforce their zero-tolerance policies. This fosters a safer work environment and ensures peace of mind, knowing the possibility of workplace incidents related to substance use is minimized. Employers can focus on productivity and efficiency, driven by the assurance that employees comply with workplace requirements.
