Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use. It offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft. When collected near the scalp, hair can present nearly a trimester-long detection span for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing. For testing beyond 10 panels, including EtG or add-ons, 150mg is preferred. It's advisable to weigh the specimen with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, the same quantity from body hair may be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core procedures in drug testing analysis include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, samples are initially integrated into the lab’s system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping of samples, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and covers any additional data input absent in an electronic custody chain.
Screening serves as an initial examination for substance presence. Although cost-efficient for evaluating the majority of samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal acceptability. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. This phase isolates drugs from the hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), a complexity that makes hair screening the most challenging process.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives undergo cleansing before confirmation as necessary. The full process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair itself, excluding the follicle.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Danwood, SC Hair follicle testing showcases remarkable detection accuracy, vastly outperforming traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Danwood, SC Hair follicle testing's significant advantage lies in its extended detection period, reviewing up to 90 days of substance use history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Danwood, SC Hair follicle testing stands out for its resistance to tampering, facilitating definitive and trustworthy outcomes.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Danwood, SC Accredited Drug Testing provides extensive national coverage with conveniently located testing centers.
Simple, Confidential Process in Danwood, SC Our straightforward and confidential process ensures seamless testing experiences.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Danwood, SC Our competitive pricing and rapid result times provide excellent value.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Danwood, SC Hair follicle drug tests provide precision and speed in results. Users benefit from the hair test's capability to detect substance use with high accuracy.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Danwood, SC Hair follicle testing aids in ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace guidelines.