Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term history of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to around 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion comprising approximately 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) next to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we're discussing scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes confirming that the sample was sealed and sent properly, generating a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid inspection for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be verified for it to be admissible in a legal setting. Any samples showing presumptive positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", in reality, the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Erin, TN In comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests, the superior detection power is evident. Hair testing boasts higher accuracy, offering unmatched reliability for assessing long-term substance use.
While urine tests serve select purposes, hair tests stand out, especially since their detection period significantly outlasts that of urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Erin, TN Hair follicle testing provides a far-reaching detection period, up to 90 days, offering an in-depth look into an individual's drug use history.
This wide detection window empowers employers to thoroughly evaluate potential hires or current employees with a substance use history, elevating workplace safety to new heights.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Erin, TN Hair follicle testing significantly limits the chances of tampering, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of results.
Specimens are collected under strict observation, virtually eliminating the possibility of sample adulteration, thereby providing undeniable and reliable results in every case.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Erin, TN Comprehensive testing facilities nationwide make accessing hair testing services easy and efficient.
No matter where you are, our extensive network of centers guarantees quick, hassle-free, and convenient service access, streamlining the testing process.
Simple, Confidential Process in Erin, TN The streamlined hair testing process ensures privacy and simplicity, from ordering to result delivery, safeguarding user confidentiality comprehensively.
This user-friendly system not only secures personal information but also maintains ease of use, addressing any privacy concerns effectively.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Erin, TN Enjoy competitive pricing and rapid results, ensuring excellent value for companies regardless of their scale.
Our efficient turnaround times and sensible pricing render our hair testing services an attractive choice, offering financial and operational peace of mind.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Erin, TN The hair follicle drug testing system guarantees swift and precise outcomes. Its efficiency ensures high accuracy levels, making it superb for uncovering substance use.
Undoubtedly, the hair test is designed to offer certainty, ensuring that the results provided are both dependable and timely.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Erin, TN Implementing hair follicle tests ensures adherence to drug-free workplace standards, minimizing legal risks and boosting office safety.
This testing approach fortifies compliance and calms employers as it greatly mitigates risks, fostering a serene, compliant work environment.
