Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly viewed as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a chronological record of alcohol and other drug usage, capturing biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal drug or alcohol intake over a span of roughly three months. The collection process is straightforward, making it somewhat resistant to tampering and easy to transport.
A sample typically involves a 1.5-inch section consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (with a thickness akin to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, equating to 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and verification processes. For EtG, supplementary tests, or panels exceeding ten categories, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It's essential to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If head hair is not accessible, equivalent quantities of body hair can be gathered. The term "head hair" specifically references scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (like facial or underarm hair).
Process Overview
The key stages in laboratory testing of a drug sample include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the sample's initial system entry in the lab. This process involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any outstanding data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody.
Screening serves as a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-effective method for excluding drug presence in most samples, positive screenings need further verification for legal recognition. Samples testing positive during Screening necessitate another confirmation phase.
For samples with initial positive results in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the main sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly diminished concentration rates compared to alternate techniques (such as those involving urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.
For validation of any positive screening outcomes, processes like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are utilized. Presumptive positive specimens undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The full lab sequence, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized in line with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and certified per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though frequently denoted as "hair follicle tests", this procedure examines the hair strand rather than the sub-scalp hair follicle.
Hair follicle testing in Parker Crossroads, TN, outshines urine tests by offering superior accuracy and reliability. While urine tests detect recent use, hair tests reveal a broader history of substance use, spanning up to 90 days, without issues of sample tampering, making it the preferred choice for thorough drug testing.
Employers in Parker Crossroads, TN, benefit from the extended detection window of hair testing, which covers up to 90 days of substance usage. This comprehensive overview gives a clearer insight into an individual's consumption patterns, helping make informed decisions regarding hiring and retention.
Hair follicle testing in Parker Crossroads, TN, resists tampering, ensuring sample integrity. Due to its method of collection and analysis, altering results is nearly impossible, providing trustworthy and indisputable outcomes that uphold the testing process's credibility and effectiveness.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing centers nationwide, including Parker Crossroads, TN. Our wide network ensures quick, hassle-free access for hair follicle testing, allowing individuals and businesses to receive services efficiently without geographical constraints.
The process of hair follicle testing in Parker Crossroads, TN, is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step prioritizes ease of use and privacy, addressing concerns while delivering accurate and reliable drug testing outcomes.
In Parker Crossroads, TN, our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing is coupled with fast turnaround. We provide outstanding value, ensuring organizations of any size can access high-quality testing services without financial strain or delay.
In Parker Crossroads, TN, hair follicle drug tests offer swift and precise results. Boasting unmatched accuracy, these tests identify substance use with remarkable detail, providing a reliable assessment process. Fast and consistent, this method swiftly delivers the needed confirmation of drug-free status.
With hair follicle testing, Parker Crossroads, TN, employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reliable method reduces legal risks and creates a safer, more productive working environment, offering peace of mind for companies committed to maintaining a sober staff.
