Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of hair strands capture biomarkers, offering a prolonged history of substance use. Hair samples taken near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol use over up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.
A sample of 1.5 inches, roughly 200 hair strands (similar in width to a #2 pencil) from the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is suitable for both testing and verification. For screenings like EtG, and those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample weight. If scalp hair can't be acquired, a corresponding amount of body hair should be collected. ‘Head hair’ specifically means ‘scalp hair’. 'Body hair' encompasses all other types, i.e., facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
The procedure for processing drug test samples in a lab includes four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage where a sample is processed into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample’s shipment and sealing integrity, assigns it a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any missing data entry not captured by an electronic custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While a cost-effective method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positive samples from Screening need further confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positivity during Screening, more of the original sample is used and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted at lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid testing, making hair drug testing particularly challenging.
Positive screenings are confirmed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary positive samples are cleansed before confirmation. The full lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP Hair standard and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", this test targets the hair strand rather than the scalp-located hair follicle.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Smithville, OH: Hair testing stands out for its superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Extended Detection Window in Smithville, OH: Hair follicle testing provides the advantage of prolonged detection, tracing drug use up to a remarkable 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Smithville, OH: One of the remarkable benefits of hair follicle tests is their resistance to tampering or sample manipulation.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Smithville, OH: Our expansive network of testing centers facilitates easy access to forensic services.
Simple, Confidential Process in Smithville, OH: The hair follicle testing procedure is straightforward and maintains confidentiality at every step.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Smithville, OH: Competitive pricing coupled with swift turnaround times positions our services as both cost-effective and dependable.
Hair follicle drug tests in Smithville, OH offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Precision is a hallmark of these tests as they effectively detect substance use with high accuracy. Individuals undergoing these tests in Smithville benefit from timely and trustworthy outcomes, assuring them of the validity of results delivered.
Such efficiency makes hair testing the preferred choice in the city, setting a benchmark for drug screening methods.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Smithville, OH: By implementing hair follicle testing, companies not only adhere to drug-free workplace policies but also mitigate legal risks.
