Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can represent roughly a 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When speaking of head hair, this means scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main four stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning deals with the initial processing of a sample into a lab's system. It involves verifying the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary quick analysis for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective means to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most complex methodologies to execute.
Verification of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumptively positive are washed before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Lincolnville, PA stands as a great example why hair testing outweighs urine tests. Providing better accuracy and dependability, hair tests showcase enhanced detection capabilities compared to more conventional urine exams.
The capacity of hair follicle testing in Lincolnville, PA, to capture drug consumption over a lengthy period (up to 90 days) offers employers an extensive review of a person's substance profile, invaluable for decision-making.
Hair follicle testing in Lincolnville, PA drastically curtails the chances of adulteration. This tamper-proof method assures that the outcomes are both credible and indisputable.
Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Lincolnville, PA, secures fast, simple, and stress-free testing services accessible to everyone.
The process for ordering, undertaking, and receiving outcomes in Lincolnville, PA, is seamless and confidential, addressing privacy and ease-of-use concerns head-on, ensuring peace of mind throughout the procedure.
Our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround in Lincolnville, PA highlight the exceptional value we offer to companies of every size, providing peace of mind and cost-efficiency.
The precision and quickness of hair follicle drug tests in Lincolnville, PA, are unparalleled. These tests are highly accurate at identifying substance use, delivering reliable results faster than traditional methods.
Utilizing hair follicle tests in Lincolnville, PA, ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, shielding against legal liabilities and boosting the safety of the work environment.
