Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged historical record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can deliver a detection timeline of up to approximately three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (about the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for examination and verification. For EtG tests, augmentations, and/or analysis beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for measuring the specimen is suggested. In absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair can be acquired. When mentioning head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four key phases in the lab processing of a drug test result comprise of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a sample within a lab's system. This involves confirming the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening signifies an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug usage on the bulk of samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in court. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening require an auxiliary confirmation.
Should a sample be tentatively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from the hair at a significantly lower concentration than through alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to execute.
Validation of any positive screen result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the evaluation focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Advanced Detection - Hair follicle tests outmatch urine tests in detection accuracy and dependability in Boardman, OR. They offer a comprehensive substance use profile, identifying usage that traditional urine tests might miss.
Long-Lasting Insight - Hair follicle testing in Boardman, OR, unveils comprehensive drug usage over extensive periods, sometimes reaching up to 90 days.
Uncompromised Accuracy - Tamper-proof by design, hair follicle tests in Boardman, OR, reduce manipulation risks, thereby ensuring trustworthy results.
Accessibility Across the Nation - With a network of testing centers, including Boardman, OR, accessing hair follicle testing services is immediate and stress-free.
Confidential and Simple - The hair testing process in Boardman, OR, is straightforward and respects privacy, assuring all participants of confidentiality.
Value Without Compromise - Competitive pricing in Boardman, OR, for hair follicle testing ensures affordability alongside rapid result delivery.
Speedy and Precise Are key attributes of hair follicle drug testing in Boardman, OR. Reliable results are delivered efficiently, aiding decisions concerning substance use monitoring. Unlike traditional modalities, hair tests boast undeniable precision, yielding dependable results swiftly.
Ensured Compliance - Hair follicle testing enforces workplace drug-free policies in Boardman, OR, mitigating legal challenges and bolstering safety.