Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing emerges as a robust instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a prolonged record of substances by encasing biomarkers within the strands as they develop. With strands taken close to the scalp, a detection frame of about three months for alcohol and other substances is possible. Hair is effortless to gather, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for transport.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches encompassing roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample size for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG assessments, supplementary or tests exceeding ten panels, 150mg is advisable. Use a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen accurately. If scalp hair is unfeasible, an equivalent body hair quantity is acceptable. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. "Body hair" pertains to other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test involves key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning initiates the sample's entry into the lab’s system. This phase encompasses checking the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data input not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary quick assessment for the presence of drugs. While Screening efficiently eliminates drug usage in most cases, any positive result demands confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Presumptive positive results in Screening require subsequent confirmation.
When a specimen screens presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.
Positive screenings are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, presumptive positive samples undergo washing as necessary. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Etowah, TN Hair tests offer several advantages over urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Etowah, TN Hair follicle tests extend the detection window up to 90 days.
This allows employers to gain a long-term view of substance history.
Nurtures better-informed employment decisions in Etowah.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Etowah, TN Hair tests significantly reduce sample tampering.
They ensure dependability, offering unquestionable results.
Etowah employers trust this method for secure and reliable assessments.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Etowah, TN Benefit from wide-reaching test centers nationwide.
Schedule at Etowah's local centers for a seamless testing experience.
Simple, Confidential Process in Etowah, TN Experience a straightforward, confidential testing process.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Etowah, TN Advantageous pricing aligns with budget considerations for businesses of any size.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Etowah, TN Hair follicle tests in Etowah deliver precise and prompt results.
They excel in identifying substance use with high accuracy.
The method's reliable results ensure confidence in substance history assessment.
Employers benefit from quick turnaround, reducing downtime in the hiring or monitoring process.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Etowah, TN Embrace hair follicle testing for compliance assurance.