Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a prolonged history of substance use. When collected near the scalp, they can provide an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is convenient.
A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) situated closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, a 150mg specimen is advised. Usage of a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is suggested. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair is usable. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal stages of laboratory processing for drug testing outcomes include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage where a sample is integrated into the lab system. This involves verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data not entered electronically.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, positive results necessitate confirmation for court acceptance. Samples with presumptive positives during Screening require subsequent confirmation.
If a presumptively positive result occurs during Screening, further hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging method.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as deemed necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in South Garfield, OK - Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in South Garfield, OK - Hair follicle testing captures a more extended period of substance use, covering up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in South Garfield, OK - Hair follicle tests are highly resistant to sample tampering.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in South Garfield, OK - Access to nationwide testing centers offers unmatched convenience.
Simple, Confidential Process in South Garfield, OK - The hair follicle testing process is streamlined for simplicity and confidentiality.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in South Garfield, OK - Competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times make hair testing an economical choice.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in South Garfield, OK - Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and efficiency. They boast high accuracy levels, capable of detecting substance use swiftly, ensuring dependable results.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in South Garfield, OK - Utilizing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies.
