Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective means for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the growing strand's fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment containing around 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We propose using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be obtained. When addressing head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory handling of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary integration of a sample into a laboratory's process. This step involves confirming that the sample was adequately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any additional information absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Screening offers a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage in most samples, but a positive screened result must undergo confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.
If a sample appears presumptively positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to other practices (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging procedure to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptive positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is on the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp
In Elkton, OR, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests have longer detection windows, showcasing usage up to 90 days, while urine tests fall short in detection timelines.
Elkton, OR benefits from hair follicle tests that reveal substance use over extended periods, up to 90 days. These tests present employers a detailed history of an employee or candidate's drug use.
Hair follicle tests in Elkton, OR, mitigate sample tampering risks effectively. This testing method ensures the results' authenticity and integrity, leaving no room for questionable outcomes.
With numerous testing centers across the nation, including Elkton, OR, accessing drug testing services is seamless, ensuring convenience and speed for all testing needs.
The hair follicle testing process in Elkton, OR is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, it guarantees privacy and ease.
Elkton, OR offers hair follicle tests with competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for businesses of varying scales.
In Elkton, OR, hair follicle drug tests stand out with their swift, precise, and trustable outcomes. The accuracy of these tests in identifying substance misuse is unmatched, providing confidence in the results.
Employers in Elkton, OR find hair follicle testing a reliable avenue for ensuring workplace drug policy adherence. This method reduces legal issues and promotes a safe working environment.
