Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a valuable approach for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair holds a historical record of substances by preserving biomarkers in its fibers. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it offers around a three-month timeframe for detecting drugs and alcohol. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, it's relatively resistant to tampering, and it can be easily transported.
A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is advisable. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair strictly. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four essential phases in processing a drug test in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning comprises the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system, ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a quick preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-effective strategy for excluding drug use in most samples, a confirmed positive result is necessary for legal admissibility. Samples showing a presumptive positive in screening need further confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is among the most complex methodologies to execute.
Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the standards of accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although sometimes referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Toboso, OH, provides marked advantages over urine tests. The extended detection window allows for revealing insights into substance use patterns. Unlike urine tests, hair testing boasts an enhanced ability to uncover substance use, ensuring superior reliability and detection accuracy.
In Toboso, OH, hair follicle testing extends the detection range for substances up to 90 days, offering a broader picture of an individual's drug history. This extended window is extremely beneficial for employers seeking clarity on an applicant's or employee's past substance use, allowing for a comprehensive assessment with each test.
The integrity of hair follicle testing in Toboso, OH stands unmatched, thanks to its tamper-resistant nature. This method drastically minimizes sample adulteration risks, guaranteeing reliable and unquestionable results that uphold the test's authority and accuracy in substance evaluation.
With nationwide presence, including Toboso, OH, accessing hair follicle testing has never been easier. Our widespread testing centers provide convenient, hassle-free access to services, ensuring that individuals can quickly and easily fulfill their testing needs without lengthy wait times or procedural complications.
The hair follicle testing process in Toboso, OH is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to sample collection and result retrieval, the entire procedure ensures user privacy and convenience, addressing all concerns related to the privacy and confidentiality of participants.
In Toboso, OH, hair follicle testing boasts affordable pricing without compromising on speed. Our cost-effective pricing and fast turnaround guarantee excellent value, providing companies of all sizes peace of mind and effective solutions from start to finish.
In Toboso, OH, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and rapid turnaround. Their superior accuracy in detecting substance presence makes them a preferred choice for employers. Results from these tests are not only fast but also reliable, ensuring trustworthy assessments of substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Toboso, OH ensures employer compliance with drug-free workplace policies, significantly reducing legal liabilities. The clarity it provides enhances workplace safety by maintaining adherence to necessary policies, granting peace of mind and assurance to employers.
