Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug usage by encapsulating biomarkers within the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, a hair sample can reveal alcohol and drug use over roughly a three-month period. Hair samples are straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length and consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp is needed to obtain 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, add-on tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable amount of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair represents all other hair categories (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary steps of incorporating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. While Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation procedure.
In instances where a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this procedure, drugs are extracted from the hair at lesser concentrations compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thereby making hair drug screening a more complex methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptively positive sample undergoes washing prior to confirmation if required. From Accessioning through Confirmation, the entire laboratory process is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Mount Gretna, PA, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are significant. Hair tests offer unmatched accuracy and reliability in substance detection. Compared to traditional urine testing, hair tests provide more comprehensive results due to a longer detection window and reduced risk of manipulation.
The power of a hair follicle test in Mount Gretna, PA is its extended detection period, tracking substance use for up to 90 days. This broad observational window allows employers a holistic insight into past substance usage.
Hair follicle tests in Mount Gretna, PA are designed as a tamper-resistant solution in drug testing. Due to hair's properties, these tests minimize the chances of sample adulteration, delivering unchallengeable results.
Our facilities, including in Mount Gretna, PA, offer convenient nationwide testing sites. These centers make access to drug testing seamless, ensuring rapid and easy service.
The hair follicle testing process in Mount Gretna, PA is simple and confidential. From the order stage to receiving results, the process respects privacy and convenience.
Focusing on Mount Gretna, PA, our hair follicle drug testing services offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround. Our competitive rate structures ensure exceptional value while delivering rapid results for businesses of any size.
The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests in Mount Gretna, PA is unmatched, providing fast, precise, and reliable outcomes. These tests are especially valued for their high level of accuracy when identifying substance use, ensuring results you can trust.
Using hair follicle testing in Mount Gretna, PA provides compliance and peace of mind for employers. This testing strengthens adherence to drug-free work policies, reduces legal risks, and enhances safety at the workplace.
