Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This method offers a longitudinal record by embedding biomarkers within the strands of maturing hair. A sample collected near the scalp can offer nearly a 90-day window for detecting substances like alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and can be easily shipped.
A 1.5-inch piece comprising approximately 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp equates to 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and substantiation. To conduct EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can suffice. Mention of head hair is limited to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The core phases in laboratory processing of hair drug tests include: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is initially integrated into the laboratory's system, ensuring proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any supplementary data entry as required beyond an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial, expedited evaluation for drug presence. While it's an economical approach to potentially eliminate drug use in numerous samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with a presumptively positive result during Screening require additional verification.
Should a preliminary positive arise during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepped for Extraction. Herein, drugs are isolated from hair at more diminished levels as opposed to other screening methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair analysis one of the more challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any initial positive result employs techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives are washed before Confirmation as required. The entire process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is scrupulously affirmed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although called "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair strand, not the underlying scalp follicle.
When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine analyses in Watts, OK, the former shows superior accuracy and reliability. Hair assessments enhance detection, catching more instances of substance use.
Employers in Watts opting for hair follicle tests over urine tests find greater detection capabilities. These tests have a broader detection timeframe, offering more accurate insights.
In Watts, OK, one of the prominent benefits of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window of up to 90 days, providing a clear picture of someone's substance history.
Employers prefer hair testing for its ability to trace drug use over a more extended period, ensuring a wider coverage in Watts of any substance abuse history.
Hair follicle testing in Watts significantly diminishes chances of tampering, ensuring dependable results. Reduced risks of sample adulteration provide clearer, accurate data.
The methodology of hair testing makes it tamper-proof, providing Watts employers and institutions greater confidence in the test results, ensuring integrity.
Accessing drug testing in Watts is seamless due to widespread nationwide and local testing centers, guaranteeing quick and easy service availability.
The convenience of comprehensive testing locations in and around Watts ensures swift access, minimizing hassles and supporting prompt testing services for all.
The process for hair testing in Watts is straightforward and private, assuring users of discreet handling and simple procedures without concerns of privacy breaches.
Confidentiality and ease are paramount, with the hair testing process in Watts ensuring users experience a smooth and private testing journey from start to finish.
Competitive pricing of hair testing in Watts, combined with rapid turnaround times, makes it a value-for-money choice, suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Affordability and quick processing in Watts mean companies receiving excellent service and peace of mind with hair testing, ensuring efficient use of their resources.
In Watts, OK, hair follicle drug tests stand out due to their precision and credibility in pinpointing substance intake. The advanced testing methods ensure rapid and precise outcomes.
The process of hair follicle testing ensures swift and consistent results, offering a precise measurement of substance use, making it an ideal choice for those in Watts seeking reliable drug testing measures.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Watts, OK, assists employers in adhering to drug-free workplace mandates, reinforcing safety and minimizing legal risks.
With hair testing, Watts employers gain peace of mind as it supports compliance, enhances safety, and fosters a secure working environment for all employees.
