Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to mail.
A sample size of 1.5 inches, containing about 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil), nearest to the scalp, will provide 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to estimate the specimen weight. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key four steps in laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s database. This entails confirming that the specimen was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude substance use for most samples, a positive screening needs confirmation to be valid in court. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require secondary confirmation.
Should a specimen show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening a challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair qualification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair shaft and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Spartansburg, PA stands superior to urine testing by offering a broader detection window. One key benefit is its robustness against circumvention, making it ideal for organizations with stringent policies. Accuracy in results ensures reliability, providing a better depiction of substance usage than traditional tests.
Employers are increasingly choosing hair testing over traditional urine methods due to its enhanced reliability and comprehensive detection capabilities. Hair tests are able to provide a more thorough assessment of substance history, making them the preferred choice.
The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Spartansburg, PA provides a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history over the course of 90 days. Unlike other forms of testing, this method captures a longer span, offering employers critical insights into an employee’s habits.
Lending thoroughness to the screening process, hair follicle tests allow organizations to gain an informed understanding of an applicant or employee's behavioral patterns. This extended window presents valuable insights that influence hiring or employment decisions.
One of the most substantial advantages for Spartansburg, PA organizations choosing hair follicle testing is the reduction in tampering risk. Hair tests are significantly resistant to adulteration, offering reliable and indisputable results, safeguarding the integrity of the testing process.
In contexts where accuracy is critical, the tamper-resistant nature of hair testing provides a safeguard against manipulation, ensuring that results reflect true usage and create confidence in testing protocols.
Discover the convenience of nationwide testing facilities, including those right here in Spartansburg, PA. Our extensive network ensures quick and painless access to necessary services, making hair testing efficient and straightforward.
Whether local or from afar, individuals benefit from seamless access to our well-equipped centers, facilitating a stress-free testing experience that meets diverse needs and timelines.
At our Spartansburg, PA locations, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, ensuring discretion and user comfort.
The process involves straightforward steps with support available to address privacy concerns, ensuring confidence for all clients. This ease ensures a user-friendly experience for all participants.
In Spartansburg, PA, hair follicle tests offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, reinforcing the value we provide to all organizations, irrespective of size. Our reasonable costs coupled with efficiency make it a sound investment for businesses.
Providing peace of mind through affordability and quick processing times, our services cater effectively to varied client needs while ensuring budget-friendly solutions.
In Spartansburg, PA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Precision in detection and speed in processing are hallmarks of this method, assuring high accuracy in identifying substance use. Offering peace of mind, hair testing delivers dependable evidence while enabling swift decision-making for individuals and organizations alike.
Turnaround times are remarkably swift with hair follicle tests, allowing results to be rapidly provided to clients. This efficiency in the testing process ensures minimal waiting and maximum reliability. For those seeking precision, hair tests represent an optimal choice.
Compliance and peace of mind are readily achieved through hair follicle testing in Spartansburg, PA. Employers find this method instrumental in adhering to workplace drug-free policies, reducing liabilities and enhancing safety through reliable detection mechanisms.
By implementing hair testing, companies mitigate potential legal risks while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. This proactive approach promotes a safer and more productive workplace.
