Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is considered an effective method to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, presenting a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal amount for testing and validation. For EtG, additional analysis, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent portion of body hair can be utilized. The term head hair exclusively refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair covers all other types like facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
The procedure in laboratory analysis of a drug test result consists of four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the phase where a sample is initially integrated into a laboratory’s system. This step verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information that an electronic chain of custody system does not provide.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. It is a cost-effective approach to dismiss drug presence in most samples, however, a positive result from Screening requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples that show a presumptively positive in Screening must have a secondary confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample for Extraction. In this stage, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lesser concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug analysis one of the most challenging methods.
Confirmation for any positive result identified in the Screening stage is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are cleansed as required. The complete laboratory progression from Accessioning to Confirmation is thoroughly assessed within both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly named "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Madisonburg, PA, hair follicle testing surpasses the traditional urine tests by offering better detection accuracy and reliability.
Its capability to showcase drug history over an extended period compared to the more temporary urine tests gives a more comprehensive evaluation.
With a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Madisonburg, PA provides employers with a deeper understanding of an individual’s substance use history.
This extended period allows for a thorough evaluation of potential drug use, crucial for informed decision-making.
The hair follicle test offers a tamper-resistant method ideal for Madisonburg, PA, minimizing sample adulteration risks.
This reliability ensures that the results are trustworthy and clear, granting peace of mind with their authenticity and inability to be easily manipulated.
Accredited Drug Testing in Madisonburg, PA boasts a network of convenient nationwide locations.
This enables easy, stress-free access to our testing services, ensuring local residents have quick and efficient service available at their fingertips.
The process in Madisonburg, PA is both straightforward and confidential, providing simplicity and privacy in ordering, testing, and results.
Addressing concerns over privacy makes the overall experience seamless and protective of personal information.
Our Madisonburg, PA services ensure competitive pricing alongside a rapid turnaround.
Companies of all sizes benefit from our valuable offerings, guaranteeing peace of mind through affordable costs and swift results.
The hair follicle drug test in Madisonburg, PA is known for its speed and accuracy, providing results with high precision.
Its meticulous nature ensures it effectively identifies substance use, making it a reliable choice for those seeking accurate test outcomes.
Employers in Madisonburg, PA benefit from hair follicle testing with improved compliance to workplace drug-free policies.
This method not only decreases legal risks but also fortifies workplace safety, offering peace of mind that employees adhere to organizational standards.
