Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a robust mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of developing hair strands, hair offers an extended timeline of drug and alcohol usage. When gathered near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol presence for a timeframe reaching up to three months. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil in circumference) located closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be utilized. When discussing head hair, it is specific to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test laboratory processing encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial handling of a sample into the lab's system. This procedure comprises checking that the sample is correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody setup.
Screening serves as an initial rapid evaluation for substance abuse. While a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug presence in a majority of samples, a positive screening requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples that give a preliminary positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.
Should a sample yield a preliminary positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves isolating drugs from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methods (for instance, urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening exceptionally challenging to execute.
Positive screening results proceed to Confirmation by utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is assessed according to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Minford, OH
Hair follicle testing in Minford provides a more robust alternative to urine tests, ensuring superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests capture recent drug use, hair testing reveals past substance use over months, making it a more comprehensive option.
Extended Detection Window in Minford, OH
Hair follicle tests offer a remarkable long-term detection window, up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe allows employers to gain a thorough insight into an individual's substance habits, offering clear evidence of long-term patterns rather than recent consumption, enabling informed decision-making.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Minford, OH
The hair follicle testing process is inherently resistant to tampering, drastically minimizing the risk of adulteration. Its robust methodology ensures reliable outcomes, as altering samples is nearly impossible, providing unquestionable results that organizations can trust implicitly.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Minford, OH
Our testing services are conveniently accessible due to numerous nationwide and local centers, including Minford, OH. This wide reach ensures that test-takers can access services quickly and easily, eliminating stress and creating swift pathways to the information needed.
Simple, Confidential Process in Minford, OH
We ensure a straightforward, confidential process allowing for easy ordering, testing, and results retrieval. This privacy-centric approach respects individual confidentiality while maintaining simplicity, resulting in a seamless experience for every client in Minford.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Minford, OH
Our competitive pricing structure and fast processing times offer significant value to businesses, no matter their size. With affordability and efficiency intertwined, we provide an excellent balance between cost-effectiveness and swift, reliable service that businesses appreciate.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Minford, OH
Hair follicle tests deliver precision in detecting substance use swiftly. Unlike traditional methods, they efficiently identify drug presence, ensuring high accuracy. Their ability to swiftly process samples ensures that results are delivered quickly and reliably, offering peace of mind through their decisive accuracy and rapid turnaround.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Minford, OH
Adopting hair follicle testing helps employers adhere to workplace drug-free policies seamlessly. This compliance reduces legal risks and boosts overall safety, ensuring the work environment remains secure and fosters a culture of accountability, enhancing peace of mind for businesses.
