Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It captures long-term drug and alcohol use history by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of a growing hair strand. Hair collected near the scalp can reflect up to a 90-day usage period for substances like alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.
A sample length of 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp weighs around 100mg, which constitutes a perfect sample for screening plus confirmation. For EtG testing, additions, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement is advisable. Without scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. 'Head hair' pertains exclusively to scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses other hair forms (such as facial or axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. Though Screening is economical for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive result must undergo confirmation to hold legal validity. All samples yielding positive indications in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
In cases where a Screening shows a potential positive, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are then isolated from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), dictating hair drug screening as the most challenging procedure.
Confirmation of any positive result during screening is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although sometimes termed as "hair follicle tests," the test itself assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Kersey, PA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine testing. The superior detection accuracy of hair tests ensures that drug use is identified effectively.
Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide longer detection windows and greater reliability, capturing a more comprehensive picture of substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Kersey, PA, offers a remarkable detection window, reaching up to 90 days of drug history. This extended period gives employers deeper insight into an individual's substance use.
By detecting drugs over a longer timeframe, hair tests enhance comprehension of an applicant or employee's past use, aiding informed decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Kersey, PA, significantly reduces the chance of tampering. The collection process and nature of hair testing make sample adulteration highly ineffective.
By ensuring that results are reliable and tamper-resistant, hair tests maintain the integrity of the testing process for all involved parties.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations both nationwide and locally in Kersey, PA, providing easy access to reliable testing services.
The extensive network ensures that individuals and companies alike have quick, hassle-free entry to testing facilities wherever needed.
The hair follicle testing process in Kersey, PA, prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality. The straightforward procedures ensure ease of access and maintain privacy throughout.
From ordering to result interpretation, each step supports consumer confidence in a discreet and effective manner.
Offering competitive pricing in Kersey, PA, hair follicle testing provides great value for companies of all sizes. Quick turnaround times emphasize the test's efficiency.
Affordable rates ensure that businesses maintain financial ease while gaining access to rapid and reliable results.
In Kersey, PA, the precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests set them apart. Accuracy in detecting substance use ensures that employers and authorities alike have reliable data to rely on.
Hair tests offer prompt results, giving stakeholders confidence in the testing process's reliability. The speed at which results are delivered aids timely decision-making.
Employers in Kersey, PA, benefit from using hair follicle testing to maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, decreasing potential legal issues.
The comprehensive nature of these tests enhances workplace safety and ensures peace of mind, affirming employer commitment to a drug-free environment.
