Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying substance use. Hair retains drug and alcohol indicators trapped in its strands over time. When taken from near the scalp, hair reveals drug and alcohol use for about a 3-month period. It is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section with around 200 hair strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If head hair is lacking, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses other types (e.g., facial, underarm).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing drug test results at a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is entered into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample's seal and shipment were intact, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes extra data entry as necessary without an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary check for substance abuse. Though cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation before being valid in legal settings. Any results tentatively positive at Screening will need a further confirmation.
When Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Drugs are separated from hair in smaller concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing is complex to execute.
Confirmed positive screenings are analyzed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The lab procedures from Accessioning through Confirmation align with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests in Drifton, PA, often outperform urine testing. They offer superior detection accuracy and reliability over longer periods. Unlike urine tests, hair testing provides a clearer picture of substance use history, crucial for employers and agencies enforcing strict substance policies.
Hair follicle tests in Drifton, PA, provide a detection window of up to 90 days. This extended time allows employers to gain insight into an individual's long-term substance use, making it an invaluable tool for assessing reliability and compliance with organizational standards.
Hair follicle testing in Drifton, PA, is less susceptible to tampering than urine tests. Its methodology minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, offering dependable results that can't be easily manipulated, thus ensuring integrity in drug testing processes.
Drifton, PA, benefits from our extensive network of testing centers, ensuring fast and accessible hair follicle testing nationwide. This convenience allows individuals and employers to efficiently access required services with minimal hassle.
The process for hair follicle testing in Drifton, PA, is straightforward and confidential. Ordering tests, collecting samples, and viewing results are designed to protect privacy while being easy to navigate, addressing common concerns about procedure complexity.
In Drifton, PA, we offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle tests. This combination provides exceptional value, especially for companies needing significant testing, while maintaining peace of mind through fast and reliable service delivery.
In Drifton, PA, hair follicle testing stands out for its speed and precision. These tests offer high accuracy, detecting substance use that remains in the system long after it would in urine. This reliability makes it a preferred choice for employers who need fast and trustworthy results to make informed decisions.
Using hair follicle testing in Drifton, PA, aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. This approach bolsters compliance, mitigates legal risks, and enhances workplace safety, thereby fostering a more secure and productive environment.
