Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a detailed record of substance use over time by encasing biomarkers in the hair strand's fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair offers an alcohol and drug detection timeline of up to around 3 months. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's girth) near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, optimal for both screening and confirmation. For assessments like EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advocated. It is advisable to measure the hair on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent mass of body hair can be used instead. On the topic of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The process of analyzing a drug test sample involves four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the phase where a sample is initially processed within a lab’s system. This consists of confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary, brief assessment for drug usage. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drugs in most samples, a positive result necessitates verification for court acceptability. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening must undergo further confirmation.
For samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations much lower than those in other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), which makes hair drug analysis one of the more challenging techniques.
Confirmation of positive screenings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All presumptive positives are cleaned as necessary before confirmation. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Caution: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Foster, OR, proves superior to urine testing for several reasons. While traditional urine tests detect recent drug use, hair tests offer extended detection periods, up to 90 days. This provides a broader validation window, making hair tests more reliable for ensuring adherence to drug-free policies, especially advantageous for stringent employer requirements.
Emphasizing its extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Foster, OR captures drug use history up to 90 days. This feature grants employers a comprehensive overview of an employee's or applicant's substance use, crucial for informed decision-making. Extended timelines of detection set it apart from other testing methods, encouraging a more thorough evaluation of long-term drug use.
One of the standout benefits of hair follicle testing in Foster, OR is its resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, hair tests minimize the possibility of sample adulteration, providing results that employers can rely on. This reliability ensures the integrity of the testing process, safeguarding against manipulation and offering peace of mind during evaluation.
Convenience is key with our numerous testing centers, including those in Foster, OR. Our nationwide facilities ensure that accessing hair follicle testing is seamless, swift, and hassle-free. Clients benefit from our comprehensive network, providing easy and efficient testing services locations, making it simple to meet testing needs.
The process of ordering and completing a hair follicle test in Foster, OR is straightforward and confidential. Simplicity and privacy are central to our approach, ensuring that clients experience minimal hassle and maximum discretion. From test ordering to result acquisition, we prioritize respect for client privacy throughout.
In Foster, OR, hair follicle testing offerings are known for competitive pricing and rapid result turnaround. Our cost-effective structures grant excellent value while ensuring timely results, appealing to businesses of any size. With us, affordability does not come at the sacrifice of quality, serving every company’s budgetary and operational needs.
In Foster, OR, hair follicle drug testing offers results that are fast, accurate, and reliable. Its precision in identifying substance use makes it a standout choice for drug testing. Employing modern technology, hair tests ensure a high level of detection accuracy, giving employers and individuals trustworthy insights into substance use patterns.
Opting for hair follicle testing in Foster, OR aids in workplace compliance and peace of mind for employers. Such testing guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal liabilities and enhancing safety. Adopting hair testing reinforces a commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment.
