Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record for alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair. When collected close to the scalp, a hair sample can offer up to about a 3-month window for identifying alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
An ideal hair sample for screening and confirmation involves a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) taken near the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, a sample of 150mg is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. Head hair references scalp hair exclusively, while body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
Four key steps make up the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring it was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary check for abuse substances. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening require a secondary confirmation.
Presumptive positives in the Screening phase prompt additional hair extraction from the original sample for preparation for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.
Positive screening confirmations are made through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning through Confirmation, the full lab process is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.
In Longview, TX, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering enhanced detection accuracy. Hair tests boast longer detection windows, capturing substance use history more comprehensively than urine tests can.
Hair tests are often preferred for their superior reliability in identifying drug use, ensuring detailed and reliable assessments for employers and legal agencies.
Hair follicle testing in Longview, TX stands out due to its ability to detect drug use over a prolonged period of up to 90 days, offering a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history.
This extended detection window is invaluable for employers wanting a detailed understanding of an employee or applicant's long-term drug use patterns.
In Longview, TX, hair follicle tests minimize the risk of tampering, presenting a secure drug testing method. Sample integrity is maintained, delivering certain results.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair testing ensures that results are trustworthy, making them a reliable choice for detecting substance use.
With numerous testing locations available nationwide, including in Longview, TX, our services offer unmatched convenience for drug testing. Accessing these services remains hassle-free.
Quick, local test centers ensure efficient and seamless processing, facilitating easy access for individuals and organizations requiring testing.
Our testing process in Longview, TX is structured to be both straightforward and confidential, making it easy for individuals to manage. Privacy is a fundamental priority throughout.
From ordering to testing and results delivery, the entire process is designed for simplicity, catering to concerns about ease of access and confidential handling.
In Longview, TX, our drug testing services provide competitively affordable pricing paired with prompt result delivery, offering excellent value to companies.
Our efficient processes ensure quick turnarounds, minimizing wait times and enhancing the overall client experience through cost-effective service options.
Hair follicle drug tests in Longview, TX assure fast, reliable results. Their speed in processing and delivering results supports thorough and precise substance detection.
These tests excel in precision, ensuring dependable outcomes for drug and alcohol detection, making them a favored choice for swift, trustworthy results.
Employers in Longview, TX can achieve peace of mind and compliance with workplace drug policies through hair follicle testing. This method reduces legal risks significantly.
By integrating hair testing, companies ensure they meet drug-free policy standards, fostering a safer, more productive work environment.
