Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This method offers extended insight into past drug and alcohol use due to the entrapment of biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. A sample taken near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol presence for up to roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp yields 100mg, which is the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. By 'head hair', only scalp hair is implied. 'Body hair' refers to other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The drug test result processing in a lab involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is about integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This part includes checking if the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial fast assessment for substance abuse. While it's cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, positive results in Screening require confirmation to be legally viable. Any samples that test positive in Screening require further confirmation.
If Screening indicates a positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much thinner than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is exceptionally complex to conduct.
Positive Screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All such samples undergo a necessary washing before confirmation. The complete process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation following ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the testing is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing drug tests in Lakehills, TX, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests due to its superior accuracy and reliability. While urine tests offer limited detection windows, hair assessments can identify substance use with far greater precision, helping to establish a clearer picture of an individual's substance habits.
Hair follicle tests in Lakehills, TX, offer an extensive detection window, capable of uncovering drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This provides employers with an all-encompassing analysis of an employee’s or applicant's substance history, aiding in better-informed hiring decisions.
Lakehills, TX, benefits significantly from hair follicle tests that greatly mitigate the risks of sample tampering. The integrity of the test results remains uncompromised, delivering trustworthy findings that employers and legal bodies depend on for reliable assessments.
Testing in Lakehills, TX, is simple and accessible, thanks to a wide network of nationwide locations. These centers facilitate quick and effortless access to testing services, removing the hassles often associated with drug testing procedures.
In Lakehills, TX, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. Clients can easily order tests, complete them, and receive results with the assurance of privacy, addressing any apprehensions over confidentiality and complexity of the procedure.
Lakehills, TX, businesses can enjoy competitive pricing and prompt turnaround times with hair follicle testing. This affordable option ensures excellent value, catering to companies of varying sizes looking for cost-effective and timely drug testing solutions.
In Lakehills, TX, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their speed and precision. The tests provide high accuracy levels in identifying substance use, delivering fast, dependable outcomes that help businesses maintain a drug-free environment without delay.
Employers in Lakehills, TX, gain substantial peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring alignment with workplace drug-free policies. This testing method helps curb legal challenges and promotes a safe working environment for all employees.
