Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers in the strands' fibers as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window stretching up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of around 200 hair strands, roughly akin to a #2 pencil’s thickness, nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is prime for analysis and verification. For EtG extensions and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. Employ a jeweler's scale for accurate specimen measuring. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar volume of body hair is an alternative. When discussing head hair, it refers strictly to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning integrates the sample into a laboratory's system, ensuring that the specimen was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data input not covered by an automated chain of custody setup.
Screening entails an initial, rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective, Screening primarily eliminates drug usage in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal viability. Samples that appear positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample prove presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternative methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening poses the greatest challenge among methodologies.
Confirmation for any positive screening result is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all samples showing presumptive positives undergo cleansing as needed. Each phase, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the assessment examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Oklahoma City, OK, hair follicle testing offers advantages over urine tests by detecting substance use more accurately and reliably. The superior sensitivity of hair tests makes them ideal for comprehensive drug monitoring.
Hair follicle testing in Oklahoma City, OK provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days, allowing employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history, making informed decisions easier.
Employing hair follicle testing in Oklahoma City, OK significantly minimizes the potential for sample tampering, offering dependable and unquestionable data regarding substance usage.
Access to nationwide testing locations, including in Oklahoma City, OK, provides a convenient and hassle-free option for anyone needing drug testing, keeping the process streamlined and efficient.
In Oklahoma City, OK, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring ease of use and protecting personal privacy from the initial order to receiving results.
Oklahoma City, OK offers competitively priced hair follicle tests with swift turnaround times, delivering excellent value and reassurance to businesses, big or small.
Hair follicle drug tests in Oklahoma City, OK ensure fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of these tests allows for detailed detection of substances, providing clarity and confidence in the outcomes.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Oklahoma City, OK helps ensure compliance with workplace drug policies, mitigating legal challenges, while enhancing safety and peace of mind for employers.