Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of substances like alcohol by embedding biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection period extending up to about three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A specimen of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) cut nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional elements, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If head hair is unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair might be gathered. Be aware that head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair forms (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal steps in the lab analysis of a drug testing sample include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning covers the initial processing of a sample within a testing lab. It encompasses confirming proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening represents the preliminary evaluation for drugs. Although Screening is cost-efficient in excluding drug use for many samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that test positive in Screening necessitate supplementary validation.
When a sample shows a positive result during Screening, additional hair is separated from the original specimen for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging method.
Confirmation on any positive findings from Screening is implemented via techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive result are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The whole lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is supervised according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair protocol and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the procedure evaluates the hair shaft, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Snake Creek, OK
Extended Detection Window in Snake Creek, OK
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Snake Creek, OK
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Snake Creek, OK
Simple, Confidential Process in Snake Creek, OK
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Snake Creek, OK
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Snake Creek, OK
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Snake Creek, OK