Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective approach for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-lasting archive for alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to approximately three months of detection for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (similar to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for screening and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The main four stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the early stages of processing a sample within a lab’s system. This encompasses verifying that the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drugs of misuse. Though Screening is an economical way to exclude drug use in the bulk of samples, a confirmed screen is a prerequisite for legal acceptability. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening mandate subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows tentative positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleaned before confirmation, as needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis concerns the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When examining the advantages of hair follicle versus urine tests in Norwood, PA, it's clear that hair testing offers superior detection accuracy. Hair samples provide a broader detection window and are less susceptible to tampering, ensuring reliable results.
Hair follicle testing stands out with its extended detection period, making it an excellent alternative to traditional urine tests. Employers benefit from enhanced reliability, gaining a clearer understanding of an individual's drug use history.
Hair follicle testing in Norwood, PA, provides an extended detection window, revealing drug use over the past 90 days. This comprehensive view assists employers in evaluating an applicant or employee's substance history and integrity.
Employers seeking detailed substance use insights rely on hair follicle tests. The long detection period affords an in-depth examination of potential or current employees' drug habits, promoting a safer workplace.
In Norwood, PA, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that mitigates the risk of sample adulteration. This makes it a trustworthy choice for organizations demanding the utmost accuracy and unquestionable results.
Employers can rest assured knowing that hair testing in Norwood offers a solution that reduces tampering and manipulation risk, ensuring test validity and reliability.
With a network of convenient testing locations across the nation, including Norwood, PA, accessing hair follicle testing services is a straightforward and hassle-free experience.
Our nationwide centers in Norwood and beyond provide easy access to testing, ensuring quick service completion without unnecessary delays. This accessibility is invaluable for businesses and individuals alike.
The hair follicle testing process in Norwood, PA, is designed to be simple and confidential, ensuring order placement, testing, and results retrieval are straightforward yet private.
Addressing privacy and ease of access, Norwood residents can confidently engage in a streamlined testing process, guaranteeing confidentiality every step of the way, with results provided discretely.
In Norwood, PA, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for companies of all sizes seeking cost-efficient testing solutions.
Our affordable pricing structure in Norwood allows businesses to access thorough substance testing without breaking the bank, while fast processing guarantees prompt results, maximizing operational efficiency.
In Norwood, PA, the precision and speed of hair follicle tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests detect substance use with unparalleled accuracy, offering a dependable solution for those requiring meticulous results.
The advanced technology behind hair follicle testing ensures prompt detection of various substances in a person's system. Employers in Norwood can rely on these tests for accurate insights into an individual's substance use history.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Norwood, PA, aids employers in maintaining a drug-free workplace, ensuring compliance with company policies and reducing potential legal liabilities.
By adopting hair testing, Norwood employers are equipped to promote a safe working environment. Employers gain peace of mind, knowing drug policies are upheld, contributing to organizational safety and integrity.
