Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drugs through encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and other drug use for up to about a 3-month period. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch snippet encompassing approximately 200 hair strands (roughly as thick as a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages involved in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory's system. This involves checking that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial rapid test for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage from most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample results as presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample is cleansed before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Saint Bethlehem, TN offers advantages over traditional urine tests. Superior accuracy and reliability set hair testing apart, with a detection period that uncovers substance use patterns where urine tests may fall short.
In Saint Bethlehem, TN, hair follicle testing boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This prolonged timeframe permits employers to gain deeper insights into an individual's substance use history, aiding in thorough evaluations.
Hair follicle tests in Saint Bethlehem, TN stand as a tamper-resistant testing method. This technique mitigates the risk of sample tampering, ensuring that results remain trustworthy and incontrovertible, providing users with confidence.
With convenient testing locations both nationwide and locally in Saint Bethlehem, TN, accessing testing services is swift and uncomplicated. Our widespread network guarantees you a stress-free testing experience.
The process for hair follicle testing in Saint Bethlehem, TN is simple and confidential. Ordering, conducting, and obtaining results are straightforward tasks while protecting your privacy, making your experience seamless and secure.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, hair follicle testing in Saint Bethlehem, TN positions itself as a cost-effective solution. Companies, regardless of size, benefit from accessible pricing coupled with prompt result delivery.
The hair follicle drug test in Saint Bethlehem, TN is renowned for its speed and precision. Quickness and accuracy are the hallmarks of this testing method, which boasts high reliability in identifying substance use. Experience peace of mind with testing that ensures quick and reliable results.
Employers in Saint Bethlehem, TN can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. By adhering to drug-free policies through this method, businesses reduce legal liabilities while promoting a safer workplace environment.
