Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. Collected near the scalp, hair samples can reflect up to around a 3-month window of substance detection. The process is easy to collect, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, supplemental, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we are exclusively discussing scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result is processed through four primary steps in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the step where a sample is initially incorporated into a laboratory’s system. It includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use for many samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for courtroom admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require an additional verification.
If a sample is found presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screen results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary before confirmation. The entire sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards for accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Bonita, TX, hair follicle testing prevails over urine tests for drug screening. The benefits are clear when comparing the two.
Detection Accuracy: Hair tests offer superior precision in identifying substances.
Reliability: Provides consistent results unaffected by recent abstention efforts of the test subjects.
Hair follicle testing in Bonita, TX offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window. Employers can review an individual’s substance use history over a period of up to 90 days.
One of the top advantages of hair follicle tests in Bonita, TX is its tamper-resistant nature. This ensures the authenticity and legitimacy of the results:
Testing in Bonita, TX is made easy with our numerous nationwide locations, ensuring accessibility.
In Bonita, TX, the process of hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. Key features include:
Our services in Bonita, TX offer affordable pricing with swift completion times. Businesses can enjoy:
Hair follicle drug testing provides rapid, precise, and trustworthy results in Bonita, TX. This testing method stands out due to its high accuracy in identifying substances.
For employers in Bonita, TX, adopting hair follicle testing ensures compliance and fosters peace of mind. Benefits include:
