Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is considered an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month detection period for drugs and alcohol. It is easy to collect hair, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent amount of body hair is an alternative. When discussing head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Summary
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
In the Accessioning phase, the sample is initially processed into the lab’s system. This step includes confirming the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data entry needed that an electronic chain of custody system doesn't provide.
Screening includes an initial review for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptability. Any samples that are potentially positive during Screening must undergo secondary verification.
If a sample shows a potential positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are removed from the hair at a lower concentration than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples with a presumption of positivity are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug analysis:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Colonial Park, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in providing more accurate and reliable detection of substance use. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests have a longer detection window, making it more difficult to evade detection.
Hair testing thus provides comprehensive screening capabilities.
With hair follicle testing, employers in Colonial Park, PA obtain a longer detection window, offering insight into an individual’s substance history over the past 90 days.
Employers can make informed decisions based on this extensive view.
Hair follicle tests in Colonial Park, PA offer a tamper-resistant testing method, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks. This ensures results are trustworthy and accurate.
Thus, these tests provide reliable results, free of influence.
Convenience is key in Colonial Park, PA, as our nationwide and local testing locations offer hassle-free access to testing services.
This accessibility simplifies the testing process for clients.
In Colonial Park, PA, the simple, confidential process for hair follicle testing alleviates privacy concerns.
This user-friendly approach ensures comfort and discretion for users.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in Colonial Park, PA provide value for companies of all sizes.
This combination offers peace of mind and cost-effectiveness.
Hair follicle drug tests in Colonial Park, PA are known for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of these tests ensures high accuracy, quickly identifying substance use.
This method ensures confidence in test outcomes.
Employers in Colonial Park, PA, using hair follicle testing, enjoy greater compliance and peace of mind with drug-free workplace policies.
This robust method decreases legal risks and supports safe environments.
