Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair, hair offers a prolonged historical record of alcohol and drug use. If gathered from near the scalp, hair can present an alcohol and drug detection window of up to roughly 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and hassle-free to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 hair strands (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, suitable for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a corresponding quantity of body hair can be taken. When referring to head hair, it denotes scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four crucial stages in a laboratory for processing a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s framework. This stage includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes an initial cursory inspection for drug abuse indicators. Though Screening economically assesses the majority of samples for drug use, positive screens require validation to hold up in court. Samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate a secondary validation.
Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Validation of any positive screen outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All assumed positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The end-to-end laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Hartley, TX, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy. Advantages include:
Hair follicle drug testing in Hartley, TX provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This capability offers employers valuable insights into an individual’s long-term drug use, unlike shorter-term urine tests.
Hair follicle testing in Hartley, TX stands out as a tamper-resistant methodology. The rigorous collection process significantly limits the risk of sample adulteration.
Our convenient nationwide testing facilities, including locations in Hartley, TX, ensure swift and hassle-free testing services.
In Hartley, TX, hair follicle testing offers a simple and confidential process for obtaining, conducting, and receiving results.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in Hartley, TX deliver excellent value.
Hair follicle drug tests in Hartley, TX deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision ensures comprehensive detection of substance use, providing critical information quickly.
Employers in Hartley, TX gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. These tests minimize legal risks and heighten safety standards.
