Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair screening is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use involving drugs and alcohol. Hair strands can capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a comprehensive, long-term record of substance use. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can indicate drug or alcohol use over an approximate three-month period. Hair samples are easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
To perform an effective screening, a 1.5-inch hair sample comprising roughly 200 strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) should be utilized to provide around 100mg of hair, serving as the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a recommended 150mg of the sample is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is advisable. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected as an alternative. When specifying head hair, we're specifically referring to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types of hair, including facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The complete process of laboratory drug testing encompasses four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning represents the initial phase where the sample is introduced into the laboratory's system. It ensures the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carries out any necessary additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening involves conducting an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although screening provides a cost-effective method for dismissing drug usage in most cases, any positive screening result must be confirmed to be permissible in legal contexts. Accordingly, samples that yield a presumptive positive during screening need to undergo additional confirmation.
Whenever a sample returns a presumptive positive in Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction stage. In this critical step, drugs are removed from hair at concentrations notably lower than found in alternative methods, such as urine or oral fluids, contributing to hair drug screening being the most complex methodology to carry out.
Confirmation of any detected positive result in the screening is performed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes a washing process as required before confirmation. The entire laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review in alignment with both CAP's (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although sometimes cited as "hair follicle tests", the procedure targets the examination of the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Understanding Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Placer, OR, is crucial for effective drug screening. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests provide a much broader detection period, capturing substance use history over months, not just days, thereby offering a more comprehensive screening solution.
Hair follicle tests outshine urine tests with their superior detection accuracy. They not only cover a longer window of potential substance use but also decrease the likelihood of evasion through tampering, making them the gold standard in reliable testing methods.
Employers in Placer, OR, can benefit from the Extended Detection Window offered by hair follicle testing. This method looks for drug use over a considerable duration, up to 90 days, providing a clear view of an individual's substance use history and helping make informed employment decisions.
The value of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to trace drug use far beyond the typical timeframe of other methods. By offering a window of nearly three months, it helps organizations paint a detailed picture of an applicant or current employee's extended substance use patterns.
In Placer, OR, the Tamper-Resistant Testing Method of hair follicle tests stands out for its integrity and security. These tests drastically lower the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that results remain reliable and beyond question, fostering trust in the testing process.
A major advantage lies in the difficulty of altering hair samples compared to other testing methods. This tamper-resistant nature secures the integrity of results, providing unequivocal data that is essential for maintaining strict drug-free environments.
Convenience is key when it comes to drug testing in Placer, OR, and our Nationwide Testing Locations streamline the process. Whether you’re nearby or elsewhere, accessing testing services quickly and with minimal inconvenience is assured, thanks to our extensive network of centers.
Our testing locations are strategically positioned across the country, including local centers in Placer. Such accessibility means individuals and companies enjoy seamless, hassle-free testing experiences, critical for maintaining compliance and efficiency.
In Placer, OR, our drug testing procedures are designed to be Simple and Confidential. From ordering to collection and receiving results, each step protects privacy and ensures ease, addressing potential concerns about discretion and user comfort.
A straightforward and confidential process is paramount for all test subjects. We prioritize user experience, making drug testing an easy and private endeavor, which ensures that participants feel secure and respected throughout the procedure.
Offering Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround, our hair follicle testing in Placer, OR, provides both value and speed. Our competitive rates and rapid delivery of results ensure that businesses of all sizes can confidently rely on our testing services without straining their budgets.
Budget-friendly options coupled with swift result times position our testing services as a top choice for companies. We balance efficiency and cost-effectiveness, enabling businesses to maintain high-quality standards in their substance monitoring programs.
The precision and timeliness of hair follicle testing in Placer, OR, make it an outstanding choice for detecting substance use. Fast and accurate, these tests deliver results that set the standard for reliability and efficiency in drug testing protocols, ensuring confidence in each outcome.
When it comes to accuracy, hair follicle drug tests excel. Their ability to consistently detect various substances with high precision means employers and decision-makers have dependable data in a short time frame, enhancing decision-making processes.
With hair follicle testing, employers in Placer, OR, achieve Compliance and Peace of Mind. This method assures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, significantly minimizing legal liabilities and bolstering workplace safety across industries.
Maintaining a drug-free workplace is imperative, and hair follicle testing offers a reliable compliance tool. It enables businesses to uphold stringent policies with confidence, reducing risks and ensuring a stable, secure work environment for all employees.
