Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is acknowledged as an effective instrument for detecting substance use, including drugs and alcohol. It captures a long-term history by incorporating biomarkers within the fibers of hair as it grows. Hair samples, when taken near the scalp, offer a detection period of roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, less susceptible to tampering, and convenient for distribution.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) near the scalp, yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, it is suggested to use 150mg of the sample. We advocate for measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, an equivalent portion of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair pertains to all other hair forms (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedure of processing a drug test in a laboratory encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any additional data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might not provide.
Screening executes an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although screening is a cost-efficient measure to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screening result demands confirmation to be legally valid. Samples that show an initial positive in Screening need further confirmation.
Should a sample be initially positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair in significantly lower concentrations than with other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which classifies hair drug screening as the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation for any positive screening is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with a presumptive positive result undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and alignment with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In comparision to the conventional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Elkland, PA offers unmatched detection accuracy and reliability.
Benefits of Hair Testing:
With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing provides thorough insights into drug use, proving invaluable for Elkland, PA companies.
Employers benefit from the extended detection capacity, helping to assess an individual's consistent substance use history, rather than just recent activities.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Elkland, PA ensures integrity and trust in outcomes.
This method effectively diminishes the likelihood of sample tampering, guaranteeing results that are both reliable and credible.
Benefit from the convenience of our extensive network of testing centers across Elkland, PA and nationwide.
Our local and national facilities ensure seamless access to testing services, providing a fast and hassle-free experience.
Engage in a straightforward and confidential testing process in Elkland, PA.
From the order to the reception of results, ensure user-friendly and privacy-respecting procedures, addressing confidentiality concerns for all involved parties.
Elkland, PA clients benefit from our affordable pricing and expedited turnarounds.
Our competitive rates and prompt results provide value and peace of mind, catering to companies of varied sizes and needs.
Experience the advantage of precise and swift hair follicle drug tests in Elkland, PA. Hair testing ensures exceptional accuracy in detecting a range of substances promptly.
Renowned for their high precision, hair follicle tests quickly identify substance use, providing fast and reliable results neck-and-neck with top industry standards, leading to confident decision-making.
Employers in Elkland, PA gain compliance peace of mind through hair follicle testing.
This testing method not only upholds workplace substance-free policies but also reduces legal liabilities, thus fostering a safe and secure work environment.
