Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Observation of drug and alcohol consumption through hair testing has garnered recognition as a potent method. The hair captures biomarkers of substances within its fibers as it grows, offering a retrospective account of substance use. When sampled near the scalp, hair can disclose drug and alcohol use over a period of up to 90 days. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and it is convenient for transportation.
An optimal sample entails a 1.5-inch section consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG testing, additional analyses, or panels exceeding 10, a sample comprising 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. The term "head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory process of drug testing encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary integration of a sample into the laboratory system. This phase ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is generated, and any supplemental data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system is completed.
The Screening stage is a preliminary assessment to identify potential drug abuse. Though it provides a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a presumptive positive result arises during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and processed for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at a markedly lower concentration compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity involved in hair drug screening.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are utilized for confirming any positive screening outcomes. Presumptively positive specimens undergo a cleansing before confirmation as needed. A thorough review of the entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted conforming to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite common references to "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Gilbert, SC, hair follicle testing offers marked benefits over traditional urine screenings. With superior detection accuracy, hair tests reveal a broader history of substance use, ensuring reliable results. Employers and judicial systems favor hair testing for its comprehensive overview, whereas urine tests lag in long-term detection. The longer window of visibility significantly enhances the integrity of any testing protocol.
Located in Gilbert, SC, hair follicle testing excels with its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history over an extended period. By showcasing a broader timeframe of drug use, the hair follicle test stands apart, providing valuable insights that more traditional methods do not.
The hair follicle testing method utilized by our centers in Gilbert, SC, is a robust solution against sample tampering. The resilience of this testing mechanism makes it nearly war with ensuring that results output remain unblemished by foul play. Hair testing's inherent resistance to adulteration enhances its reliability, offering unquestionable avenues of assessment.
Conveniently located nationwide, our centers, including those situated in Gilbert, SC, facilitate easy access to testing services. The broad geographic reach ensures that whether at home or away, individuals can partake in testing without the inconvenience of lengthy travel, streamlining the testing process from start to finish.
In Gilbert, SC, our testing centers ensure a simple, confidential procedure from test requisition to results delivery. The hassle-free process protects privacy, reinforcing client trust and fostering an environment where ease of test administration aligns with personal confidentiality.
Competitive pricing and rapid turnaround characterize our services in Gilbert, SC. Companies benefit from affordable rates without sacrificing quality, and our swift processing times assure peace of mind, accommodating businesses of all sizes and ensuring substantive value with every transaction.
In Gilbert, SC, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their swift and reliable outcomes. The excellence in detecting substance use is underscored by the precision with which these tests identify drug exposure. Such accuracy ensures that individuals undergo an assessment that leaves minimal room for error, vastly improving the credibility of the results obtained.
Utilizing hair follicle testing underlines Gilbert, SC employers' dedication to maintaining a drug-free workplace. This method promotes policy adherence, curtailing legal implications and sustaining safety standards. The certainty in results attained reduces exposure to legal issues while fostering a safer, more compliant work environment.