Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Recognition of hair testing has expanded due to its efficacy in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands encapsulate biomarkers, providing a prolonged record of substance use. When hair is procured near the scalp, it offers up to a three-month detection span for various substances. The procedure for collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
To conduct a comprehensive analysis, a 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) yields 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For tests like EtG or beyond 10-panel testing, 150mg of hair is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for measuring the sample. If scalp hair isn’t feasible, an equivalent volume of body hair can be utilized. The term "head hair" refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (e.g., facial, armpits).
Process Overview
The laboratory drug testing workflow involves four crucial phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the initiation process where a sample is recorded into the lab’s database. This phase ensures the sample's integrity by verifying correct sealing and shipment, assigning a unique Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and filling out any missing data outside the scope of an electronic chain of custody.
Screening acts as a preliminary examination for prohibited substances. Although Screening offers an economical solution to exclude drug presence in most specimens, only verified screens can be presented legally. Any samples with a preliminary positive outcome from Screening require a conclusive corroboration.
Upon a preliminary positive in Screening, further hair is taken from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are isolated from hair in significantly lower concentrations than observed in alternative methods such as urine or oral fluid testing, underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation for any screening positives is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Necessary washing of samples occurs before confirmation. The full lab protocol, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Trumps Urine Tests: In Pottsville, PA, the benefits of hair testing over urine tests have become clear. Hair testing offers a broader detection window and superior accuracy for assessing substance use. Employers increasingly favor hair tests for their enhanced reliability, providing clearer insights than traditional methods.
Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle testing in Pottsville, PA is celebrated for its ability to detect drug use over a far longer period, up to 90 days. This extended window provides employers with thorough knowledge of a potential hire or employee’s substance history, enabling more informed hiring decisions.
Tamper-Resistant Assurance: Hair follicle testing in Pottsville, PA, greatly diminishes the risk of sample tampering, offering results that are reliable and above reproach. Its robust methodology ensures the integrity of the test, safeguarding against manipulation that can compromise less secure testing methods.
Convenient Locations Available: Pottsville, PA benefits from a network of testing centers that offer seamless, hassle-free access to testing services. This nationwide availability ensures that testing is efficient and convenient, with locations poised to meet all testing needs effectively and swiftly.
Confidential and Straightforward: The hair follicle testing process in Pottsville, PA is designed to be simple and confidential, ensuring user privacy at every step. The process—from order to taking the test and receiving results—is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns with ease and efficiency.
Value-Driven Pricing and Fast Turnaround: Pottsville, PA offers hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and rapid result delivery, ensuring outstanding value. These tests guarantee quick turnaround times, providing cost-effective options for businesses of all sizes while maintaining high-quality outcomes.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable: In Pottsville, PA, hair follicle drug testing delivers speed, precision, and high accuracy in detecting substance use, offering some of the most reliable results available. With its cutting-edge detection methods, this test provides trustworthy insights, ensuring quality outcomes that save time without compromising on reliability.
Compliance and Security for Employers: Employing hair follicle testing in Pottsville, PA, assures adherence to employer drug-free workplace policies. It minimizes legal risks and boosts safety by offering dependable results, securing compliance, and delivering peace of mind regarding workplace safety enforcement.
