Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an influential approach for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair ensnares long-term traces of alcohol and drugs by holding biomarkers within the structure of the developing hair shaft. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window for alcohol and drugs of up to roughly three months. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, deemed the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. If head hair is absent, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. Reference to head hair means only scalp hair. Body hair includes other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary phases in laboratory processing of a drug testing result encompass Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample in a lab's system. It comprises verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a quick preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in legal contexts. Samples indicating potential positivity during Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Should a sample indicate a potential positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in far lower concentrations than in other measures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is among the more complex methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of positive screening results is pursued via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation, as required. The laboratory steps from Accessioning to Confirmation are evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing vastly outperforms traditional urine tests in Brookdale, SC. With this method, the detection accuracy vastly improves, offering a glimpse into an individual’s substance use history that urine tests can't match. Hair testing's reliability makes it the preferred choice for many employers and professionals seeking comprehensive screening.
Employers in Brookdale, SC, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection period, reaching up to 90 days. Unlike other methods, it provides a detailed perspective into an individual's history with substances, aiding in informed decision-making regarding potential hires or current employees.
Hair follicle tests in Brookdale, SC, greatly diminish the possibility of sample tampering. The method offers dependable outcomes that can be trusted, as the rigorous process of hair testing minimizes risks of adulteration, ensuring those evaluated remain compliant with testing protocols.
Brookdale, SC residents have easy access to hair follicle testing with our numerous nationwide and local centers. The expansive network guarantees quick and hassle-free test execution, making the process of getting tested both convenient and efficient for all participants.
Our process for hair follicle testing in Brookdale, SC, is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to taking and receiving results, every step is streamlined to ensure privacy and simplicity, addressing clients’ concerns while delivering accurate outcomes.
Accredited Drug Testing offers cost-effective pricing and rapid result turnaround for hair follicle tests in Brookdale, SC. This budget-friendly approach ensures that businesses, regardless of size, receive great value and prompt results, reinforcing a commitment to maintaining efficient operations.
Being fast and precise, hair follicle drug testing in Brookdale, SC, stands out for its accuracy in tracing substance use. The testing method ensures that results are not only reliable but also delivered swiftly. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers needing quick confirmations of an individual’s substance history.
In Brookdale, SC, adopting hair follicle testing allows employers to maintain compliance with drug-free work policies efficiently. This not only reduces potential legal liabilities but also significantly boosts workplace safety, granting employers peace of mind in their organizational environment.
