Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Seen as a robust method in identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing offers a deep dive into long-term substance history by encapsulating markers within the growing strand. With collection from the scalp, hair analysis can reveal a detection timeline extending to roughly three months for both alcohol and other substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, resisting alteration, and is conveniently transported.
By sampling a 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, a 100mg sample is gathered, optimal for screening and verification. For EtG assessments, additional tests, or screenings surpassing 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale is advisable. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four pivotal stages in lab processing for drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial stage of incorporating a sample into a laboratory's system, ensuring correct sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Though economical for ruling out drug use in most cases, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to hold in court. Any sample indicating a potential positive result in Screening necessitates subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are withdrawn from the hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Positive screening outcomes are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Samples exhibiting presumptive positivity are adequately washed before confirmation, and the entire process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) guidelines for Hair and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", this test assesses the hair strand, excluding the scalp-embedded follicle.
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Metzger, OR, excels due to its superior detection ability. Not only does it boast a longer window of substance history, but it also provides reliability that most urine tests lack. Ulitimate choice for employers seeking accurate and unbiased results.
The unparalleled advantage of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days. This gives employers in Metzger, OR a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history, empowering them with the information needed for critical employment decisions.
Hair follicle tests are tamper-resistant, significantly reducing adulteration risks.
With convenient nationwide testing centers, accessing hair follicle testing in Metzger, OR is hassle-free. Our local and national facilities provide quick and easy testing, ensuring services are always within reach.
The process for ordering and receiving hair follicle test results in Metzger, OR is simple and confidential.
With affordable pricing and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Metzger, OR delivers value for companies of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures ensure that businesses get the best return on investment.
Hair follicle drug tests provide fast results, offering unmatched accuracy in detecting substance use.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Metzger, OR guarantees compliance with workplace policies aimed at drug-free environments. This not only reduces legal risks but also elevates safety and reliability in the workplace, offering peace of mind to employers.
