Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of the growing hair strand trap biomarkers, offering a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs. When cut near the scalp, hair can present a detection period of up to around 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to mail.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is encouraged for weighing the specimen. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similarly sized amount of body hair can be taken. When we mention head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four fundamental stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This stage checks that the sample has been properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs verification to be court-admissible. All presumptively positive samples require secondary confirmation.
Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.
Confirmation of any screening positive is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair program and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
McCormick, SC recognizes hair follicle testing as a superior choice compared to urine testing due to its unrivaled detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair analyses provide a comprehensive glimpse into a person's substance use history.
The excellence of hair testing over urine methods lies in its enhanced reliability and accurate detection, making it the preferred option for professionals and organizations requiring stringent testing.
Employers in McCormick, SC benefit from hair testing's ability to detect drug use over 90 days, offering a thorough profile of an individual's substance history. This much-extended detection period is crucial to understanding long-term substance use.
The lengthy detection window of hair tests provides employers a complete view, making informed decisions about candidates or employees based on a more comprehensive substance record.
Hair follicle testing in McCormick, SC ensures sample integrity by reducing the chance of tampering, making it a highly reliable testing method. This reduces the risk of falsified results significantly.
By adopting hair follicle tests, the risk of sample adulteration is minimized, thus guaranteeing credible and unquestionable results for the assurance of all parties involved.
McCormick, SC residents benefit from a wide network of testing facilities, ensuring quick, convenient access to services. This nationwide presence ensures testing is seamless and accessible.
The extensive availability of testing centers across the country simplifies the process, making it easier for participants to locate a convenient location for required testing services.
Our hair follicle testing process in McCormick, SC is straightforward and maintains confidentiality at every step. From ordering to receiving results, the process prioritizes user privacy and ease.
Addressing concerns about privacy, the simple procedure allows individuals to undertake the entire process comfortably, with results provided discreetly and securely.
McCormick, SC offers competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, ensuring swift turnaround times and excellent value. This combination makes our services appealing to companies of all sizes seeking cost-effective solutions.
Affordable rates paired with a quick processing schedule provide cost-effective and time-efficient testing options, encompassing great value for businesses large and small.
In McCormick, SC, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their speed, reliability, and precision. Capable of identifying substance use with high accuracy, these tests are becoming the gold standard for quick and precise drug testing results.
The accuracy and expeditious nature of hair follicle tests are proving indispensable for those requiring immediate results, offering both precision and swiftness unmatched by other testing methods.
Employers in McCormick, SC who choose hair follicle testing can maintain drug-free workplace policies effortlessly, enhancing safety and mitigating legal complications. Compliance with industry standards is ensured.
Incorporating hair testing gives employers peace of mind, as it reinforces policy adherence and ensures a safer and more reliable work environment free from substance-related issues.
