Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a formidable method for identifying substance use. Hair stores an extended timeline of substances by integrating biomarkers within its growing strand. With a sample taken near the scalp, hair can present up to a 3-month window for detecting substances like alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands of hair (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil), nearest the scalp provides 100mg, ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those over 10 panels, collecting 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types (like facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory assessment of a drug test sample involves four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial inclusion of a sample into a lab's processes. This phase involves ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient means to discount substance use in most cases, any positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening need a secondary confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positives during Screening, more hair is drawn from the specimen for the Extraction phase. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening a more intricate process.
Every presumptive positive result is confirmed using techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that appear positive are cleansed before confirmation as required. Throughout the process from Accessioning to Confirmation, the procedure undergoes evaluation under both the College of American Pathologists' Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being referred to as "hair follicle tests," they actually examine the strand of hair, not the hair follicle below the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Calumet, OK, outshines urine tests. Hair testing offers extensive detection capabilities, showcasing greater accuracy and trustworthiness over traditional methods.
In Calumet, OK, hair follicle testing is exceptional for its extended detection window. Employers gain a detailed view of an individual's drug history, stretching as far back as 90 days.
Calumet, OK residents benefit from hair follicle testing’s robustness against tampering. This method minimizes the opportunity for sample compromise, producing dependable and unquestionable results.
Testing in Calumet, OK, is easy with nationwide centers available. This widespread coverage ensures that everyone can access testing services quickly and effortlessly.
In Calumet, OK, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. This approach addresses privacy concerns and ensures ease of use in every step from ordering to results delivery.
Calumet, OK companies can benefit from our competitive pricing and prompt turnaround times. Hair follicle testing provides excellent value, ensuring peace of mind for businesses of all sizes.
In Calumet, OK, hair follicle tests stand out for their precise and quick outcomes. These tests are renowned for their high fidelity in identifying substance use, delivering results that are thoroughly accurate.
For employers in Calumet, OK, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free policies, lowering legal risks, and enhancing workplace safety and peace of mind.
