Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol intake. Hair encases a lengthy history of substance consumption by securing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, it can provide an approximately 3-month window of detection for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, alteration is relatively tough, and shipment is uncomplicated.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precision in weighing the sample. When scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair refers solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main laboratory steps for processing a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves integrating a sample into a lab system initially. This entails confirming the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, issuing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adding any additional data not covered by an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening incorporates an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient means to negate drug use in most samples, a positive result must be verified for court validity. Samples that test presumptively positive require an additional confirmation step.
For samples with presumptive positives in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology.
Positive results from screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these tests examine the hair strand instead of the follicle under the scalp.
In Camptown, PA, hair follicle testing offers several distinct advantages over urine tests.
Its superior detection accuracy means it's much harder to evade positive results.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Camptown, PA, presents a paramount benefit.
With a capacity to track drug use for up to 90 days,
it offers a broad insight into an individual’s substance use history.
Hair follicle testing in Camptown, PA, significantly reduces the possibility of tampering,
offering results that are both reliable and airtight.
Conveniently situated testing centers throughout Camptown, PA,
and nationwide simplify the testing process.
The hair follicle testing process in Camptown, PA is as simple as it is confidential.
From ordering to receiving results, the process is streamlined to maintain user privacy and ease of use.
Our hair follicle testing in Camptown, PA, provides affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times,
delivering excellent value to companies of every size.
The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Camptown, PA, leads to fast and reliable results. With the ability to accurately detect various substances,
hair testing provides a clear advantage in scenarios requiring swift and definitive outcomes.
In Camptown, PA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance
with workplace drug-free policies, delivering peace of mind for employers.
