Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective instrument for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by enclosing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximate 90-day detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, extras, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair pertains to all other hair categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps involved in laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the introductory processing of a sample into a lab system. This consists of confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves an initial brief assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples assumed positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
Should a sample appear presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening remains the most challenging methodology to execute.
Verification of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory method from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pelion, SC. Hair follicle testing offers superior detection capabilities compared to traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Pelion, SC. Hair follicle testing uniquely examines drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pelion, SC. Hair follicle tests significantly deter sample tampering, providing genuine results.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Pelion, SC. Our expansive network of testing centers ensures accessibility for everyone.
Simple, Confidential Process in Pelion, SC. Our testing procedure is straightforward and prioritizes privacy.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pelion, SC. Competitive pricing and efficient services ensure excellent value.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pelion, SC. Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their high levels of precision and speed, making them incredibly dependable in substance detection.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pelion, SC. Hair follicle testing helps maintain adherence to workplace drug policies.