Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of drug and alcohol history by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can indicate up to a three-month timeframe for detecting drugs and alcohol. This method of collection is easy, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.
Gathering a sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg, which is ideal for both preliminary testing and confirmation. A sample of 150mg is suggested for EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, best determined using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar weight of body hair is acceptable. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal four phases in the lab analysis process for a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the foundational processing of a sample into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any outstanding data entry that isn’t handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. While it offers a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a confirmation is needed for positive results to be legally defensible. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
In cases where a sample tests positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than found with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked positive in preliminary findings undergo washing before confirmation, as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the ISO / IEC 17025 certifications.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Atglen, PA outshines traditional urine tests by offering enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests provide a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug history.
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing is less vulnerable to evasion tactics, hence offering a solid, trustworthy assessment of substance use, thanks to its sophisticated detection capabilities.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Atglen, PA offers employers an insightful view over a longer period—up to 90 days—of an applicant or employee's drug history.
This prolonged observation range is advantageous for employers seeking to maintain high workplace standards, offering a thorough check of substance use beyond more recent testing methods.
In Atglen, PA, hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risks of tampering, guaranteeing dependable outcomes. Unlike other methods, these tests are harder to compromise, enhancing their reliability.
The process is designed to ensure sample integrity, making hair follicle testing a trustworthy choice for accurate drug use detection, minimizing the chances of adulterated outcomes.
Accredited Drug Testing in Atglen, PA, boasts numerous nationwide and local testing centers, ensuring easy access to hassle-free services.
Our strategically located facilities across Atglen provide quick and convenient options for conducting essential drug tests, enhancing client accessibility and comfort.
The hair follicle testing process in Atglen, PA, is straightforward and maintains complete confidentiality, simplifying ordering, testing, and result retrieval.
This method addresses privacy concerns effectively, promoting ease of use and reliability in a discreet and secure manner for all participants involved.
In Atglen, PA, our hair follicle testing services boast affordable pricing and fast turnaround, offering significant value and peace of mind to businesses of varying sizes.
These competitive pricing models make essential drug testing accessible to all enterprises, ensuring timely and cost-effective results management.
Atglen, PA offers fast and precise hair follicle drug tests that promise accurate detection of substance use. This testing method is renowned for its reliability, providing results that employers can trust.
The efficiency of hair follicle testing in Atglen ensures rapid turnaround times, allowing for swift availability of results. This speed, coupled with superior accuracy, positions hair testing as a preferred choice in the community.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Atglen, PA, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace regulations, lowering legal risks and boosting workplace safety.
This testing method serves as a proactive approach for employers wishing to uphold stringent policies against drug use, ensuring a safer, more controlled work environment.
