Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to three months for identifying alcohol and drug presence. Hair extraction is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.
A sample of 1.5 inches in length, approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil in thickness), collected nearest to the scalp, yields roughly 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10 tests, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable volume of body hair can be collected. Head hair specifically means scalp hair, while body hair pertains to other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The sequence of procedures involved in processing a drug test result at a laboratory includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial stage of integrating a sample into the laboratory's system. This stage encompasses checking that the sample has been properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any necessary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug presence. While it is a cost-efficient method for eliminating drug usage from most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal validity. Any sample that tests presumptively positive during Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptively positive result at the Screening phase, additional hair is collected from the sample for the Extraction phase. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or saliva), marking hair testing as the most intricate methodology.
Confirmation of positive screening findings is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo a washing process prior to confirmation when required. The comprehensive laboratory processes from Accessioning to Confirmation are conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair requirements and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strands, not on the follicles beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Foster Brook, PA revolves around the benefits of hair tests over traditional urine analyses.
Extended Detection Window in Foster Brook, PA highlights how hair follicle testing uncovers drug use over a prolonged timeframe, often up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Foster Brook, PA underscores the robustness of hair follicle tests in minimizing sample tampering risks.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and local sites in Foster Brook, PA make access to hair follicle tests easy and hassle-free.
Simple, Confidential Process in Foster Brook, PA guarantees a straightforward and private experience from test ordering to receiving results.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Foster Brook, PA makes our offering appealing to companies of all sizes.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Foster Brook, PA ensure that hair follicle drug tests set the standard for precision and speed in identifying substance use.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Foster Brook, PA is achieved through hair follicle testing, which helps ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies.
