Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective means for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands as hair grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month window of detection for substances like alcohol. It's straightforward to collect, tougher to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
An optimal sample comprises a 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to a #2 pencil diameter) nearest to the scalp, providing 100mg of hair for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advised to collect 150mg. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for accuracy. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair, whereas body hair refers to all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Procedure Outline
The lab processing of a drug test result encompasses four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a specimen into the lab's system. This step ensures the specimen was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial, cost-efficient evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it's effective for most samples, any positive findings require confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positives in Screening need secondary verification.
If the Screening produces a presumptive positive, further hair is extracted from the specimen and prepared for Extraction, where drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair screening particularly challenging.
Confirmation follows any positive result in Screening using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The encompassing laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Benefits of hair drug analysis:
Drawbacks:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair Testing vs. Urine Testing
In Westline, PA, hair follicle tests exhibit superior detection when compared to traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window
Employers in Westline, PA benefit from hair follicle testing's ability to track substance use over an extended period of up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Method
In Westline, PA, hair follicle tests minimize the chances of sample adulteration, offering reliable results.
Such robustness makes hair testing a trusted option for employers.
Convenient Testing Locations
Accredited Drug Testing offers an extensive network of testing centers across Westline, PA and nationwide.
Simple & Confidential Process
In Westline, PA, obtaining hair follicle testing services is straightforward and private.
This approach addresses privacy concerns while being user-friendly.
Affordable and Fast
In Westline, PA, hair testing by Accredited Drug Testing is cost-effective with a quick turnaround.
Companies can achieve peace of mind thanks to these efficient services.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable
The innovation of hair follicle drug tests in Westline, PA highlights a leap forward in detecting substance use. These tests offer a high degree of precision in results, delivering fast and reliable information.
Hair testing stands out by efficiently identifying substances, thus aiding decision-making for employers.
Compliance and Peace of Mind
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Westline, PA ensures adherence to workplace drug-free protocols.