Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The assessment of hair has become recognized as a robust instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a longitudinal record of alcohol and other substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can showcase a detection timeline reaching nearly three months for both alcohol and other drugs. Gathering hair is straightforward, fairly resilient to tampering, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch segment, consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests surpassing ten panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. We advise utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. Should scalp hair not be present, a proportional quantity of body hair might be taken. 'Head hair' strictly implies scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedural sequence in laboratory evaluation of drug testing results includes four core stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample in a lab's framework. This phase involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, granting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody form.
Screening refers to an initial rapid assessment of substance misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient strategy to exclude drug use for most samples, positive screenings necessitate verification for court acceptance. Any samples that are positively suggested during Screening mandate subsequent confirmation.
Upon suggesting positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair from the original sample is utilized for Extraction preparation. This stage involves drug retrieval from the hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), explaining the complexity associated with hair drug screening.
Confirming any positive screen result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly referenced as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Coahoma, TX, hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests in several ways.
Employers in Coahoma, TX benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests. This method provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history for up to 90 days.
Tamper-resistant integrity is a hallmark of hair follicle tests in Coahoma, TX. The method significantly reduces risks of sample adulteration.
In Coahoma, TX, testing convenience is assured with nationwide and local locations. Our centers provide hassle-free access to drug testing services.
Our testing process in Coahoma, TX is simple and confidential.
In Coahoma, TX, we boast affordable pricing and quick turnaround.
Accuracy and Speed are key advantages of hair follicle drug tests in Coahoma, TX. These tests grant quick and precise detection of substances, ensuring that businesses can rely on the results.
For Coahoma, TX employers, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. This method supports drug-free workplace policies while minimizing legal liabilities.
