Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments are now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair may supply up to a 3-month detection interval for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG tests, extra panels, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise measuring the hair sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages in the laboratory handling of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step where a sample is processed into a lab’s system. This step confirms the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial rapid test for drug abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient way to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive result from Screening must be confirmed for it to be allowed in court. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require further confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is collected from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from the hair at a much lower concentration compared to other procedures (ex. urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging.
To confirm any positive results from screening, methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are utilized. All samples that indicate presumptive positivity are cleaned before confirmation when necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not on the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
Mead, OK, trusts hair follicle tests for their superior drug detection. Compared to traditional urine tests, hair analyses provide unmatched accuracy. The advantage lies in their ability to uncover extended drug histories, besting urine tests in reliability. Employing these tests, Mead employers get a clearer picture of an individual's substance use history, fostering safer workplaces.
Extended Detection Window
In Mead, OK, hair follicle testing grants an extended insight into drug use histories, capable of detecting substance use for up to 90 days. This longer window is critical for employers who need comprehensive substance use profiles of employees or potential hires, ensuring informed decisions based on more complete historical data.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
Hair follicle tests in Mead, OK, stand out for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly lowering the chance of sample tampering. This reliability in results provides organizations with unquestionable findings, ensuring a trustworthy assessment of drug use.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations
Our testing services in Mead, OK, are complemented by a wide network of nationwide centers. This ensures swift, accessible testing, reducing hassle for employees and employers alike. Convenience is key with easy access to our reliable services, no matter your location.
Simple, Confidential Process
In Mead, OK, ordering and performing a hair follicle test is straightforward and private. This simplicity, paired with confidentiality, addresses concerns about privacy during the testing process and guarantees ease from start to finish, providing results without compromising personal data.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
Our competitive pricing in Mead, OK, couples with rapid result delivery, ensuring excellent value for all sizes of businesses. Fast turnarounds mean that organizations receive timely data to make informed decisions, all while benefiting from affordable rates that align with your budget.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
In Mead, OK, hair follicle testing is heralded for its robust precision and rapid turnaround. It excels at rapidly validating any traces of substance use with a remarkable degree of accuracy. Such tests are invaluable tools for employers aiming to maintain a drug-free environment. The speed coupled with dependability ensures you get actionable insights efficiently.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Adopting hair follicle testing in Mead, OK guarantees compliance with drug-free policies, offering employers peace of mind. It diminishes legal risks and boosts workplace safety, maintaining a healthy, productive work environment where safety is a priority.
