Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other substances. The collection process for hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (as wide as a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, suitable for testing and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We propose measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When we mention head hair, it pertains purely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key stages in processing a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's framework. It ensures the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is economical for excluding drug use in most samples, but a positive result must be verified for court acceptance. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and set for Extraction. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.
Any positive screening outcome is verified via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Comparing hair testing to urine tests reveals clear advantages. In Smethport, PA, hair tests boast superior detection accuracy, uncovering substance use across a broader timeline. This reliability offers peace of mind to employers and institutions by providing an extended view into the history of substance consumption. Hair testing outperforms traditional methods with its comprehensive results.
Hair follicle tests shine in their capacity to detect drug use over extended periods, offering a window of up to 90 days. This ability gives employers in Smethport, PA, a broader understanding of an individual's substance use history, far surpassing the short detection period of urine tests. The long-term view ensures informed decisions in hiring and ongoing monitoring.
The integrity of hair follicle testing is unparalleled, greatly minimizing the risk of tampering. This method in Smethport, PA, provides unquestionable results, thanks to its resistance to common forms of sample adulteration. The reliability ensures that the outcomes are both dependable and trustworthy for stakeholders.
Access to drug testing is convenient with nationwide and local centers in Smethport, PA. The widespread network ensures that testing services are easily reachable, making the process hassle-free for individuals and organizations needing quick and reliable testing solutions.
In Smethport, PA, the process for ordering and conducting hair follicle tests is straightforward and discrete, ensuring that privacy concerns are addressed. The simple procedure from start to finish provides peace of mind, knowing that sensitive information is handled confidentially. Ease of use is a top priority.
Value is a critical aspect of drug testing services in Smethport, PA, with competitive pricing and quick turnover times. Organizations receive cost-effective solutions that do not compromise on quality, ensuring that affordability goes hand in hand with dependable service and rapid results.
The precision and rapid results of hair follicle drug tests make them a top choice in Smethport, PA. They offer exceptional accuracy in identifying substance use, providing employers with reliable and straightforward outcomes. Fast processing ensures timely information, which is crucial for effective decision-making.
Employers in Smethport, PA, gain peace of mind through adherence to drug-free workplace policies with hair follicle testing. This method enhances safety by reducing legal liabilities and maintaining a compliant, drug-free environment. Safe workplaces flourish under consistent and rigorous drug testing procedures.
