Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drug usage by retaining biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, armpit, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary steps in the laboratory processing of drug tests include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the introductory processing of a sample into the lab’s system, ensuring the sample was adequately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary, rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening provides an economical means to dismiss drug use in the majority of cases, a positive indication needs verification to be court-admissible. Any samples that show presumptive positive results during Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
For samples displaying presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial batch and prepped for Extraction. This phase involves separating drugs from hair at dramatically lower concentrations than other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screening results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests in Nesquehoning, PA, hair testing emerges as the preferred option for superior detection accuracy and dependability. Benefits include a broader detection window and heightened detection precision, making hair tests a more reliable choice for employers and individuals alike.
In Nesquehoning, PA, hair follicle testing offers a prolonged detection window, capable of identifying drug use over approximately 90 days. This extended reach provides employers a thorough insight into an individual's substance habits, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation beyond immediate consumption patterns.
Hair follicle tests in Nesquehoning, PA, are robust against tampering, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. This testing method provides reliable and unquestionable outcomes, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the results and ensuring accuracy beyond doubt.
Our nationwide and local testing centers in Nesquehoning, PA, promise convenient, efficient access to drug testing services. Testing is made quick and hassle-free, accommodating the needs of our clients across various locations with minimal disruption to their schedules.
The process for hair follicle testing in Nesquehoning, PA, is simple and maintains confidentiality from ordering to results. We address privacy concerns by ensuring a secure and easy-to-use process, making the experience seamless and worry-free for all participants.
Our pricing for hair follicle testing in Nesquehoning, PA, is competitive, offering excellent value for organizations of every size. With reasonable rates and swift turnaround times, we ensure affordable access to reliable testing, aligning quality and value with the peace of mind gained from timely results.
In Nesquehoning, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, precise, and trustworthy results. The method boasts high accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring reliable outcomes. Speed and accuracy are the pillars of hair testing, providing quick and dependable results that exceed standard testing procedures.
Using hair follicle testing in Nesquehoning, PA, supports workplace drug-free policies, bolstering compliance and reducing legal liabilities. Implementing this testing approach enhances workplace safety, offering peace of mind to employers by mitigating the risks associated with drug use.
