Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now considered a formidable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a long-term timeline of drug and alcohol use by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drug usage. Hair is easy to gather, difficult to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a standard #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional analyses or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is best to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be taken. When discussing head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other variants (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in determining the outcome of a lab-based drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial assessment and integration of a sample into a lab's workflow. This step involves ensuring the sample was dispatched securely, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any requisite data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial examination for substance abuse. While Screening economically eliminates drug usage in most cases, a positive finding necessitates confirmation for validity in legal proceedings. Any samples testing presumptively positive during Screening require subsequent verification.
If a specimen results in a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from the hair at a much more diluted concentration compared to other techniques (such as urine or saliva), highlighting the complexity of hair drug analysis.
Validation of positive results from Screening is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques. Any samples that are presumptively positive undergo cleaning prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests," the procedure analyzes the hair strand itself, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
The advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests are evident in Greenbrier, TN. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy, providing a picture of drug use over up to 90 days, compared to the much shorter detection window of urine tests.
Employers in Greenbrier, TN benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. Unlike other methods, hair testing unveils drug use over a ninety-day period, offering a comprehensive substance use history vital for employment decisions.
In Greenbrier, TN, the hair follicle testing method significantly minimizes the potential for sample tampering. This process ensures trustworthy and undisputed results, fortifying the integrity of the testing outcomes.
Convenient access to testing services in Greenbrier, TN is offered through our extensive network of nationwide centers. This widespread reach guarantees swift and hassle-free testing procedures for all clients.
Our process in Greenbrier, TN is both simple and confidential, making ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle drug tests easy and private. This ensures peace of mind concerning privacy and accessibility.
With affordable pricing and quick turnaround times in Greenbrier, TN, we ensure companies receive excellent value. Our competitive rates paired with rapid results provide peace of mind for businesses of all sizes.
In Greenbrier, TN, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. These tests provide precise substance use detection with quick results, enhancing the trustworthiness and efficiency of testing.
Employers in Greenbrier, TN can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. By ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies, businesses minimize legal liabilities and boost safety standards.
