Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective measure for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When taken from the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels above 10, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it refers only to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary phases in laboratory processing of drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a specimen into the lab’s system. It includes ensuring the sample was sealed and delivered properly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening includes an initial quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective way to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be upheld in court. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology.
Confirmation of positive Screening results is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Mooreland, OK
Extended Detection Window in Mooreland, OK
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Mooreland, OK
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Mooreland, OK
Simple, Confidential Process in Mooreland, OK
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Mooreland, OK
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Mooreland, OK
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mooreland, OK