Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a formidable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can provide about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively tough to tamper with, and straightforward to mail.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. When referring to head hair, it implies scalp hair exclusively. Body hair applies to all other hair types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The four fundamental steps in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning starts with the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This encompasses confirming the sample was securely sealed and correctly sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any further data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening includes an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use for the bulk of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples that present a presumptive positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is the most complex technique to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite commonly being called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp
Comparing hair testing with traditional urine tests in Lake Aluma, OK, shows clear advantages. Hair tests have superior detection capabilities and reliability.
The accuracy of hair testing outweighs that of urine tests, offering a robust solution for employers seeking thorough examination.
Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window of up to 90 days in Lake Aluma, OK. This allows for a comprehensive overview of drug use.
Employers benefit from knowledge of an individual’s sustained substance history, informing better decision-making processes.
Using hair follicle tests in Lake Aluma, OK, minimizes the chances of tampering, ensuring results are reliable and undeniable.
By reducing adulteration risks, these tests uphold a higher standard of testing integrity.
With convenient testing centers nationwide, including Lake Aluma, OK, our services provide quick and hassle-free testing access.
This extensive coverage ensures that our centers are readily available for your testing needs.
In Lake Aluma, OK, our testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential, making it easy for you to order, take, and receive your test results.
We prioritize privacy, ensuring that the entire experience is seamless and stress-free.
Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, our hair follicle testing in Lake Aluma, OK, provides excellent value for businesses of any size.
This economic approach ensures cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.
In Lake Aluma, OK, hair follicle testing stands out due to its precision and efficiency. It offers fast and accurate results, pinpointing substance use effectively.
The method's high accuracy in identifying drug use highlights its reliability. With speedy processing, it ensures timely results.
In Lake Aluma, OK, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, enhancing compliance and providing peace of mind.
Such testing reduces legal liabilities and supports a safer work environment.
