Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing is increasingly acknowledged as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 3-month detection span for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, a specimen volume of 150mg is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement of the specimen is advisable. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. When specifying head hair, this pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the preliminary integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This process includes confirming that the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary information not provided by an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening serves as an initial rapid inspection for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples yielding a presumptively positive result in Screening mandate a secondary affirmation.
Should a sample indicate a presumptively positive outcome during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. This stage aims to extract drugs from hair at concentrations significantly lower than those employed by alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessitated. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is assessed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently referred to as "hair follicle tests", the assessment itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Circle, TX, surpasses urine testing by providing more reliable detection accuracy. With superior reliability and a longer detection period, it offers clear advantages over traditional methods.
Applicants and employees in Circle, TX benefit from hair follicle testing, which provides a detection window of up to 90 days. This extended period allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's drug use history.
In Circle, TX, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant solution, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, thus ensuring the results are both reliable and irrefutable.
Circle, TX, benefits from our widespread network of testing centers which provides easy access for hair follicle tests. Whether local or nationwide, tests are quick, convenient, and stress-free.
In Circle, TX, the hair follicle testing process is simplified and confidential. Ordering, testing, and obtaining results is straightforward, prioritizing privacy and user-friendliness for its residents.
Our competitive pricing in Circle, TX, coupled with swift turnaround times, ensures excellent value and swift service for businesses, regardless of their size, reinforcing both affordability and speed.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing offer unmatched accuracy for detecting substance use in Circle, TX. The method excels with its high detection capability, offering rapid and dependable results that Circle residents can trust.
For Circle, TX employers, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risks, boosts safety, and offers peace of mind, reinforcing organizational compliance.
