Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains long-term evidence of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When hair is collected near the scalp, it offers up to an estimated three-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Procedure Summary
The principal stages in the lab processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This entails confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a rapid preliminary test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be permissible in court. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require a further confirmatory test.
If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than through alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex method to conduct.
Confirmation of a positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive are washed as needed before confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug tests:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Comparing hair follicle testing with urine tests, the former provides superior accuracy and reliability. Hair tests in Cashion, OK, exhibit a detection period that covers an extended timeline of substance use, unlike traditional urine tests, which only reveal recent drug consumption.
In Cashion, OK, one of the primary advantages of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window. Unlike traditional methods, it effectively identifies drug use spanning up to 90 days, giving employers comprehensive insights into an individual's substance use history.
For Cashion, OK, hair follicle tests represent a tamper-resistant testing method that minimizes the chances of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures results remain trustworthy, forming a foundation of integrity in drug testing practices.
With convenient locations across the nation, including Cashion, OK, our testing centers provide hassle-free access. The nationwide presence ensures quick and easy drug testing services, accommodating the needs of individuals and businesses alike.
In Cashion, OK, the process of hair follicle testing is streamlined and confidential. It assures privacy and simplicity, from ordering to receiving results, addressing concerns about personal data protection and ease of processing.
Hair follicle testing in Cashion, OK, combines affordability with fast turnaround times. Clients benefit from competitive pricing and prompt results, offering excellent value for businesses regardless of their size and requirements.
In Cashion, OK, hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled precision and speed. These tests boast high accuracy in substance detection, ensuring quick and reliable results that are crucial for employers and other stakeholders who rely on dependable data for decision-making.
Employers in Cashion, OK, gain peace of mind through compliance and security with hair follicle testing. This method aids in upholding drug-free policies, reducing legal vulnerabilities, and enhancing workplace safety through thorough substance screenings.
