Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The evaluation of drugs and alcohol through hair sampling is increasingly recognized as an effective approach. Hair preserves a comprehensive record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers. When hair is cut close to the scalp, it can offer an approximate detection span of three months for alcohol and drugs. The hair collection process is straightforward, presents challenges for tampering, and facilitates easy transportation.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximating the circumference of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, essential for screening and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is preferred. Measuring the specimen with a jeweler's scale is advised. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing for a drug test includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample undergoes an initial processing stage in the laboratory system. This step verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry missing from the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary examination for drug presence. While efficient in ruling out drug use for the majority, any positive outcome from Screening necessitates confirmation before being considered acceptable for legal purposes. Samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.
If a presumptive positive is detected in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is the most complex to execute.
Confirmation of positive results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positive samples undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and follows the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the assessment targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
In Powell, TN, hair follicle testing offers several advantages over urine tests. Hair testing boasts superior accuracy and longer detection windows, making them ideal for identifying substance use over months. This method's reliability is unmatched, providing an efficient and foolproof approach to accurately discerning past drug use without the drawbacks of traditional urine tests.
With the ability to spot drug use over a span of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Powell, TN, offer employers a more comprehensive insight into an applicant's or employee's past substance usage. This expanded detection period provides valuable information for making informed hiring decisions, ensuring a dependable workforce committed to workplace safety and policy adherence.
Hair follicle testing in Powell, TN, is a tamper-resistant method, significantly lowering the possibility of sample adulteration. This provides unwavering confidence in test outcomes, ensuring they are both legitimate and conclusive, and thus offering a dependable choice for entities demanding unbiased substance usage evaluations.
Testing services across Powell, TN, are made simple and accessible thanks to our convenient nationwide and local testing centers. This network guarantees quick, hassle-free access to drug screening, making it effortless for individuals and organizations to meet their testing needs with ease and efficiency.
The hair follicle testing process in Powell, TN, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, the process prioritizes ease of use and privacy, addressing any privacy concerns effortlessly while ensuring that clients experience a smooth testing experience from start to finish.
Our hair follicle testing in Powell, TN, is characterized by affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times. This ensures companies of all sizes receive exceptional value, balancing cost-effectiveness with the assurance of fast, reliable results that reinforce trust in our testing services.
Known for its precision, hair follicle testing provides quick and accurate substance detection in Powell, TN. This method reliably identifies drugs, offering high accuracy rates that set it apart from many traditional testing forms. By serving results swiftly, it reaffirms its efficiency and dependability in delivering credible outcomes for assessment purposes.
By utilizing hair follicle tests in Powell, TN, companies can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace mandates, mitigating legal liabilities while promoting safety. This commitment to thorough screening processes fosters a secure and productive environment, offering employers peace of mind as they uphold the highest standards of operation.
