Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands create a chronological record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the hair as it grows. Sampling hair near the scalp grants up to roughly a three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch segment containing approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and verification. For EtG, additives, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. It's best to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used instead. Head hair pertains only to scalp hair, while body hair includes facial, axillary, and other types.
Process Overview
The four central phases in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen within the lab’s database. This process includes confirming that the specimen was sealed and dispatched properly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any missing data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method for excluding drug usage in most samples, any positive screen must be validated for use in judicial proceedings. Samples that test as presumptively positive require subsequent confirmation.
In cases of a presumptive positive from Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower levels compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening one of the most intricate testing methodologies.
Verification of any positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected per both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 certification standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Fox Chapel, PA, hair follicle testing offers superior detection capabilities compared to traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide a better accuracy rate in spotting drug usage, giving more reliable outcomes.
Hair follicle drug testing in Fox Chapel permits extended detection of up to 90 days, surpassing the scope of many other testing methodologies.
Hair follicle testing significantly cuts down the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring unquestionable reliability in Fox Chapel, PA.
Access convenient testing locations nationally, with local centers in Fox Chapel, PA. Our network offers quick and hassle-free services.
In Fox Chapel, PA, enjoy a simple and confidential process for ordering and undertaking hair follicle tests, ensuring privacy and ease.
Benefit from affordable pricing and rapid turnaround on hair follicle tests in Fox Chapel, PA. Our service model emphasizes value without compromising quality.
The hair follicle drug test provides quick, accurate, and reliable assessments in Fox Chapel, PA. Its accuracy in detecting drug use is unmatched, offering precision that's essential for effective substance monitoring.
By implementing hair follicle testing, employers in Fox Chapel can ensure compliance and gain peace of mind, safeguarding workplace safety.
