Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The examination of hair is now acknowledged as an efficient method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the developing hair fibers. When procured near the scalp, hair can present a detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or more than 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest measuring the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills out any additional required data not included by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug consumption in most samples, a positive result in Screening necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require a secondary verification.
When a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction stage. In Extraction, drugs are taken from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of the hair drug screening process.
Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the evaluation is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Mill City, OR, hair follicle testing excels over urine tests in several ways. Detection Accuracy: Hair tests identify drug use over a longer timeframe, providing unparalleled accuracy. Meanwhile, urine tests have a shorter detection period.
Reliability: Hair testing offers consistent and reliable results, unaffected by short-term abstentions that might influence urine tests.
Hair follicle testing in Mill City, OR is invaluable for its Extended Detection Window: lasting up to 90 days. This duration enables employers to gain a detailed understanding of an individual's drug use over a significant period, unlike urine tests, which offer a limited snapshot.
The hair follicle testing method in Mill City, OR significantly diminishes tampering concerns. The sample collection process is robust, ensuring integrity and trustworthiness of results. Unlike urine tests, hair tests are resistant to common tampering techniques, providing results that are both reliable and trustworthy.
With our testing centers available nationwide, including Mill City, OR, our services offer convenience and peace of mind.
Wide Reach: Our locations ensure easy access to drug testing services, eliminating the hassle of complex scheduling or distant travel.
Local and Accessible: Convenient local centers are always within reach.
The process for hair follicle drug testing in Mill City, OR is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, this method respects privacy concerns while maintaining simplicity in execution, ensuring a stress-free experience for users.
In Mill City, OR, our hair follicle drug testing services are both affordable and efficient. With competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, we provide excellent value without compromising quality. Our approach makes it feasible for businesses of all sizes to maintain comprehensive drug testing policies.
Mill City, OR benefits from the swift and precise results offered by hair follicle drug tests. These tests swiftly and accurately detect substance use, surpassing urine testing in reliability. With high precision, these tests ensure that substance usage is thoroughly evaluated, bringing peace of mind to both employers and employees.
Employers in Mill City, OR find assurance in hair follicle testing for maintaining a drug-free workplace. This testing supports compliance with policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety. Hair testing provides comprehensive results that bolster responsible hiring and employee management practices.
