Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair strands retain a historical record of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibrous construction of the growing hair. A sample taken near the scalp offers an approximate 3-month detection span for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and easy to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) cut near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, suited for comprehensive examination and validation. For EtG, supplementary checks, and tests surpassing 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is preferable. Utilize a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. 'Head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab-based processing of a drug test involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary incorporation of a sample into a lab's framework. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional required documentation absent from an electronic custody chain.
Screening provides an initial drug abuse check. While cost-effective for excluding drug presence in most samples, a positive screen needs validation for court acceptance. Presumptively positive samples from Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If preliminary results from Screening suggest a positive outcome, additional hair is sourced from the original sample for Extraction. At this phase, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Any positive screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptively positive samples are cleaned before confirmation. The full process from Accessioning to Confirmation receives scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Typically known as "hair follicle tests", these tests evaluate the hair strand instead of the follicle below the scalp.
When comparing testing approaches, hair follicle testing in Homestead, OR has distinct advantages over urine assessments. Hair testing is known for its exceptional detection accuracy and reliability.
In Homestead, OR, hair follicle testing stands out due to its extended detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days in the past. This offers employers an expansive insight into an applicant or employee's substance habits.
Homestead, OR's hair follicle tests minimize the chance of sample tampering, ensuring uncompromised results. This method maintains a high level of reliability.
With convenient testing centers nationwide, including several in Homestead, OR, accessing drug testing services is straightforward and stress-free.
The process in Homestead, OR for hair follicle testing is straightforward and private, calming any privacy concerns.
Offering competitive pricing and prompt turnaround in Homestead, OR, our hair follicle tests provide excellent value. This ensures peace of mind for organizations focused on cost and efficiency.
The precision of hair follicle tests in Homestead, OR deserves attention. These tests offer unmatched precision in identifying substance use, ensuring fast, dependable outcomes. Hair tests provide reliable insights into an individual's drug history, proving to be significantly accurate.
Employers in Homestead, OR benefit from hair follicle tests, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace standards. This helps reduce legal exposure while improving safety.
