Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug intake by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to around a three-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of around 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp equals 100mg of hair, serving as the ideal amount for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we reference only scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This process includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples presenting a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over urine testing in Warrior Run, PA. Hair tests have a far extended detection window, making them invaluable in long-term substance monitoring, unlike their urine counterparts, which detect recent use only.
While urine tests are susceptible to tampering, hair testing avoids these issues entirely. This security enhances the test's credibility, providing employers with a more dependable substance use assessment method without the same level of manipulation risks associated with urine testing.
The hair follicle test's extended detection window in Warrior Run, PA, allows drug use to be traced up to 90 days back. This timeframe gives employers a robust insight into an individual's substance behavior over an extended period.
With this comprehensive detection capability, employers can better understand an employee's past substance use patterns, fostering informed decisions regarding hiring, retention, and compliance within workplace policies focusing on substance use.
Hair follicle tests stand out in Warrior Run, PA, as a tamper-resistant method, greatly mitigating the chances of sample adulteration. The integrity of test results is preserved, lending credibility and robustness to the findings.
This characteristic is critical for organizations seeking reliable drug testing methods, as it ensures that the outcomes are a true reflection of the individual's substance history, thus supporting justified corporate decisions with factual data.
Warrior Run, PA benefits from extensive testing location access, providing unparalleled convenience. With our testing centers spread nationwide, scheduling a test is both quick and easy for individuals and employers alike.
These accessible locations guarantee hassle-free testing services, reducing wait times significantly and allowing for rapid response to testing demands, thus accommodating both local and traveling participants efficiently.
Our straightforward process in Warrior Run, PA ensures confidentiality and ease. Ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is seamless, addressing any privacy concerns head-on.
The entire procedure is designed to prioritize individual privacy while providing clear and concise outcomes quickly, thereby enhancing user experience without compromising on security and discretion throughout.
Accredited Drug Testing in Warrior Run, PA, offers competitive pricing with fast turnaround times, ensuring exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. Our hair follicle tests combine affordability with efficiency, making them a strategic choice for employers.
By delivering rapid results paired with cost-effective pricing, we empower organizations to maintain high testing standards while staying within budget, thereby supporting effective operational planning and personnel management.
In Warrior Run, PA, hair follicle drug tests shine with their precision and quick results. The sophisticated analysis methods in these tests enable high accuracy levels. With speedy processing times, waiting for results is significantly reduced, making it ideal for urgent testing needs.
The reliability of hair follicle testing stems from its ability to accurately pinpoint substance use. This efficiency means that individuals and organizations alike can trust in the outcomes, ensuring optimal decision-making based on clear, verifiable data.
Employers in Warrior Run, PA, gain peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This approach aids in reducing legal risks and cultivating a safer, more reliable working environment.
By employing hair testing, companies demonstrate their commitment to an effective policy, reassuring all stakeholders of their dedication to maintaining a healthy, compliant, and secure workplace atmosphere free from drug-related distractions.