Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is widely recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol use. It offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. Hair collected near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol usage for up to three months. The collection is simple, difficult to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches containing approximately 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" covers all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal stages in laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory system. This step involves verifying sample sealing and proper shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data entry not present in the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs an initial check for the presence of drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, court-admissibility requires confirming a positive screen. Samples presumed positive during Screening require secondary confirmation.
If the Screening stage indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drug extraction from hair occurs at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screening results is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Advantages of Hair Testing over traditional urine tests in Hillsboro, OR include:
Extended Detection Window for drug use through hair follicle tests in Hillsboro, OR:
Tamper-Resistant hair tests in Hillsboro, OR significantly mitigate risks associated with sample adulteration:
Testing Convenience with Nationwide and local locations in Hillsboro, OR:
Simple and Confidential Hair Follicle Testing in Hillsboro, OR offers discretion:
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hillsboro, OR mean accessible services for businesses of all sizes:
Fast and Accurate hair follicle testing in Hillsboro, OR offers precision unmatched by other methods. The speed of this testing ensures timely results, critical in various professional and legal settings.
Compliance and Peace of Mind achieved through hair follicle testing in Hillsboro, OR: