Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The perception of hair testing as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption has grown. Hair captures evidence of alcohol and drug use over an extended period by embedding biomarkers within its fibers during growth. Collected from near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage within an approximate 90-day timeframe. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
Approximately 200 hair strands in a 1.5-inch sample (roughly #2 pencil diameter) closest to the scalp provide about 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation processes. For Extended drinking (EtG), additional testing, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is best to use a jeweler’s scale for measuring. Should scalp hair be absent, a similar quantity of body hair is an alternative. Head hair pertains solely to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair includes any other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug testing is composed of four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the primary processing of a sample takes place in the lab’s system, ensuring that the seal and shipment are intact, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any needed data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, any positive result during Screening demands confirmation for legal admissibility. Any specimens that are presumptively positive necessitate a confirmatory follow-up test.
If a specimen tests presumptively positive through Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. In this step, hair drug screening extracts drugs at substantially decreased concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), signifying why it stands as a challenging method to execute.
Confirming a positive screen result involves using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The full lab review process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite common reference as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine testing in Hummelstown, PA, for several reasons. Its improved detection accuracy and reliability ensure that employers and legal entities can trust the results. While urine tests provide a shorter detection window, hair testing provides a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug history, detecting substances that may not be visible in urine tests.
Hair follicle drug testing offers an extended detection window, thoroughly tracing drug use histories of up to 90 days in Hummelstown, PA. This capability presents employers with a much broader view of applicants' or employees' substance histories, lending confidence to their hiring and monitoring decisions. Such extended detection considerably outstrips that of urinalysis, making hair tests profoundly informative.
Hair follicle testing greatly diminishes the risk of sample tampering, providing dependable results in Hummelstown, PA. This testing method is resistant to common adulterative tactics which compromise urine tests, ensuring findings are accurate and indisputable. The integrity of these tests helps assure employers and legal authorities of their veracity.
Accredited Drug Testing offers the convenience of numerous nationwide testing centers and local sites in Hummelstown, PA. This broad network ensures seamless accessibility and expeditious testing services for all clients. Our widespread locations streamline the drug testing process, ensuring it's both quick and hassle-free for patrons everywhere.
The process for hair follicle testing in Hummelstown, PA, is straightforward and secure, maintaining confidentiality at all stages. Whether ordering, undergoing the test, or receiving the results, each step is designed to preserve privacy and ease of use. This simplicity addresses any user concerns, ensuring a smooth experience throughout.
Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing structures in Hummelstown, PA, along with rapid turnaround times, delivering exceptional value. Our affordable pricing makes high-quality testing accessible to companies of all sizes, providing peace of mind and swift outcomes without the premium price tag.
The speed and precision of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched, ensuring prompt and accurate outcomes for those in Hummelstown, PA. The high level of accuracy inherent in hair tests excels at identifying substance use, making it a leading choice for reliable results. Patrons can trust in the consistency and swiftness of these analyses, as they ascertain the presence of drug use efficiently.
Utilizing hair follicle testing assures Hummelstown, PA employers of their firm adherence to workplace drug-free policies. Such compliance alleviates legal risks and considerably elevates workplace safety. By selecting hair testing, employers also gain peace of mind, knowing they are maintaining a protected and regulated work environment.
