Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Coudersport, PA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a chronology of alcohol and drug exposure by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When clipped near the scalp, hair reveals roughly a three-month detection scope for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for assessment and validation. For tests such as EtG, additional substances, and any test exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, equivalent body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" specifically pertains to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types, including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test follows four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within the laboratory's workflow. This step ensures the sample's secure sealing and correct shipping, generates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening comprises an initial examination for potential drug misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most instances, a positive result must be corroborated for court acceptance. Presumptive positives from Screening undergo further verification.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of positive Screening results is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS processes. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before Confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can track drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection thresholds.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, increasing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It can display a timeline of drug use over an extended period, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug analyses tend to be pricier than other testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests," this test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Coudersport, PA: Compared to customary urine tests, hair follicle evaluations offer superior detection with enhanced accuracy and credibility. Unlike urine tests, which cover mere days of history, hair tests extend the analysis timeframe.

Hair testing triumphs over urine tests due to its extended detection window, making it a preferred choice for long-term substance abuse scrutiny, providing valuable insights into an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Coudersport, PA: Hair follicle examinations offer a prolonged drug detection period of up to 90 days. This advantage grants employers the ability to gain thorough insights into an employee’s or applicant’s past substance usage, ensuring informed decision-making.

Employers benefit immensely from the broad detection reach of hair tests, ensuring a robust understanding of an individual’s substance history, beyond the temporary scope of other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Coudersport, PA: The hair follicle approach considerably diminishes the likelihood of sample tampering, delivering outcomes that are both dependable and beyond suspicion. This eliminates doubts associated with alternate testing methods.

Hair tests ensure the integrity of results through a method designed to thwart any form of manipulation or deceit, providing an unparalleled level of confidence in the reliability of results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Coudersport, PA: Our widespread testing centers offer straightforward access, streamlining the process for quick and efficient testing services, both nationally and locally in Coudersport.

With locally accessible facilities, Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the screening process for Coudersport residents, ensuring minimal hassle and top-notch service throughout the testing journey.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Coudersport, PA: Our straightforward procedure ensures privacy and ease, from ordering your test, through taking it, to receiving results, addressing confidentiality largely.

This method guarantees that you navigate from start to finish seamlessly, maintaining strict confidentiality standards throughout, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Coudersport, PA: Our competitive pricing and rapid response times ensure you receive excellent value alongside the assurance of quick, reliable results, ideal for companies of all scopes.

By offering affordability and swiftness, hair testing delivers peace of mind, reinforcing its standing as a practical choice for all businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Coudersport, PA: Hair follicle tests are renowned for their precision and swift outcomes. This method provides a high degree of accuracy, swiftly detecting any substance use efficiently, making them an excellent option for both employers and individuals.

Employing cutting-edge technology, hair follicle testing ensures that results are both comprehensive and timely, offering an unmatched level of dependability.

Comprehensive Detection: Hair tests can pinpoint substance usage with exceptional precision, setting them apart in the field of drug testing and delivering trustworthy assessments consistently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Coudersport, PA: Utilizing hair follicle testing fosters adherence to drug-free workplace policies, significantly lowering legal threats and boosting overall workplace safety standards.

For employers, implementing hair testing ensures compliance with mandatory regulations while promoting a safe and accountable working environment, fostering peace of mind with consistent, reliable results.

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