Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
As an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing is gaining recognition. Hair fibers capture biomarkers while they grow, offering a long-term overview of alcohol and drug usage. When taken directly from the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage over a span of approximately three months. It is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp amounts to 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional options, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen weight. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount from body hair may be used. The term head hair strictly refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four key stages involved in processing a drug test result in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step where a sample is entered into a laboratory's system. This process involves confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary assessment to detect drug abuse. While it is a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.
For samples that test presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction stage. During this step, drugs are extracted from the hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Any positive screening result is verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as necessary. The complete lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," the test itself assesses the hair strand rather than the scalp-embedded hair follicle.
Compared to urine testing, hair follicle tests offer superior detection and reliability in Clairton, PA. Hair tests provide a longer detection window, identifying drug use that urine tests might miss. Employers benefit from accurate outcomes, gaining insights into substance usage well beyond the short period covered by urine tests, thus enhancing workplace safety.
In Clairton, PA, hair follicle testing reveals drug use over an impressive 90-day span. This extended detection capability gives employers comprehensive insight into an individual's substance habits. Such detailed history surpasses what traditional urine tests can offer, allowing for more informed decision-making regarding employment and safety policies.
Hair follicle tests in Clairton, PA, provide a tamper-resistant method for drug analysis. This approach minimizes contamination risks, ensuring trustworthy results. Hair samples, being harder to adulterate compared to other methods, bring assurance and credibility, crucial for adherence to strict substance policies by employers and legal systems.
With convenient testing centers located across Clairton, PA and nationwide, access to drug testing services is quick and hassle-free. The broad network of facilities supports easy coordination, making it simpler for individuals to complete necessary assessments without delay or inconvenience.
In Clairton, PA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and result retrieval, the streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns effectively. Users are assured of an easy and discreet experience, maintaining confidence in the process.
Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround in Clairton, PA, hair follicle testing provides excellent value. Competitive rates and swift results cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring they meet their testing needs efficiently while maintaining budgetary constraints and receiving timely insights.
In Clairton, PA, hair follicle drug testing assures precision, speed, and dependability. This method excels in swiftly delivering results with high accuracy, efficiently identifying substance use. The meticulous process involved ensures that findings are both rapid and reliable, giving individuals and organizations confidence in the results obtained.
Employers in Clairton, PA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety. As part of a comprehensive policy, it helps maintain a secure environment and uphold company standards effectively.
