Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers in the fibers of the growing strand, providing a long-term history of alcohol and other substances. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to approximately 90 days for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch piece consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar amount of body hair can be substituted. Note that when we refer to head hair, it strictly means scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in the laboratory process for a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into the lab’s system, which includes confirming proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening acts as a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-effective approach to dismiss drug consumption on the majority of samples, any positive result must be confirmed to ensure court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This process involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing more complex.
To confirm any positive screening result, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is employed. All samples testing presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly referenced as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the scalp's hair follicle.
In Rural Valley, PA, hair follicle testing stands out by offering a superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests. The extended window of detection elevates hair testing as the method of choice for true, long-term insight into substance use.
Why choose hair testing? Hair samples remain viable for much longer and are less prone to tampering, making them a more dependable option. Conversely, urine tests are easily influenced and provide a shorter detection timeline.
With hair follicle testing in Rural Valley, PA, the extended detection window stretches up to 90 days. This ensures employers receive a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history, far surpassing the time-span available with urine tests.
Unlike traditional methods, the long-term detection capability of hair testing allows employers to screen potential hires or current employees for sustained substance usage, crucial for roles demanding consistent sobriety.
The hair follicle test design in Rural Valley, PA, significantly reduces the risk of tampering, ensuring that results are reliable and verifiable. This provides an uncompromised picture of an individual's substance usage.
With a high level of resistance to adulteration, hair testing is nearly impossible to manipulate, unlike urine tests where adulteration can be a concern, adding an extra layer of security in the testing process.
Rural Valley, PA, benefits from our extensive network of testing centers, offering quick, nationwide accessibility. This infrastructure makes testing a hassle-free experience, eliminating barriers to obtaining necessary screenings.
Local convenience is assured with centers easily accessible in Rural Valley. Our nationwide reach underscores our commitment to easy, prompt service wherever you are.
Emphasizing a simple and confidential process, hair follicle testing in Rural Valley, PA, ensures ease of ordering, testing, and receiving confidential results. This process respects privacy while maintaining transparency.
Users appreciate the clarity and discretion at each stage, addressing concerns over sharing sensitive information, and ensuring their privacy always remains intact throughout the process.
In Rural Valley, PA, our hair follicle testing not only assures accuracy but comes with competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. This invaluable service is affordable, making it viable for organizations of all sizes to maintain compliance.
Cost-effective solutions: Our pricing structures adapt to your needs, ensuring you receive the best value without compromising on the speed or quality of the results delivered.
In Rural Valley, PA, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, making them an excellent choice for those seeking certainty in test outcomes.
Speed is of essence: Hair follicle tests deliver results swiftly, allowing individuals and organizations to make informed decisions quickly. This efficiency ensures minimal disruption to workflows and offers timely insights into substance use.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Rural Valley, PA, aligns with maintaining compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This not only reduces potential legal challenges but also boosts workplace safety by ensuring a drug-free environment.
Employers gain peace of mind knowing that the testing method employed is robust and in line with regulatory standards, minimizing liabilities and safeguarding employee welfare.
