Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a long-term history of substances by incorporating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When clipped near the scalp, the hair can reveal a detection window extending up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or when conducting more than 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. When referring to head hair, it pertains to scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the sample’s initial integration into a laboratory's system. This step includes confirming the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not performed by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a rapid check for drugs of abuse. While screening is a cost-effective method for eliminating drug use on most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples testing positive during screening require secondary confirmation.
Should a sample show preliminary positive results in Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial specimen for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting hair drug screening as the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation. The full process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing is evident in numerous ways. In Los Ebanos, TX, hair testing is able to detect a far broader history of use, illustrating its superiority over urine tests. The reliability factor is evident, ensuring employers receive a fuller picture of behaviors over an extended period.
While traditional testing methods, like urine tests, are limited in detection windows, hair testing stands unmatched, offering insights into an individual's consumption habits beyond the immediate past.
In Los Ebanos, TX, the Extended Detection Window is a significant advantage of hair follicle testing, capturing up to 90 days of substance use history. This broader window allows employers to gauge the long-term habits of potential or current employees, providing a fuller understanding of someone's substance use.
Employers benefit from this prolonged window as it ensures potential hires or current staff adhere to company standards, reinforcing a drug-free work environment effectively.
One of the standout features of hair follicle testing in Los Ebanos, TX is its Tamper-Resistant Testing Method. This method greatly minimizes the risk of tampering, offering trustworthy results. The nature of hair collection is naturally resistant to the adulteration methods often seen in urine testing.
The reliability of the results from hair tests ensures that employers and legal authorities can depend on the findings, maintaining integrity in testing procedures.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations reach even Los Ebanos, TX, ensuring accessibility and ease for individuals seeking testing services. Our extensive network of facilities makes it simple to find a location, ensuring testing remains a straightforward and stress-free process.
Local access to testing assures minimal disruption and prompt service, thus maintaining the testing schedule as per requirements, providing convenience and efficiency.
In Los Ebanos, TX, the Simple, Confidential Process for hair follicle testing reassures all parties involved. Starting from easy ordering, through the collection, to receiving the results, every step maintains confidentiality and ease, core to our service philosophy.
This privacy-respecting process ensures that sensitive information is securely handled, aligning with personal and professional standards.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround are integral to our hair follicle testing services in Los Ebanos, TX. We understand the importance of value, offering competitive rates alongside our swift processing times, perfect for companies mindful of budgets.
Fast turnaround times guarantee that results are delivered promptly, assisting in the decision-making process and allowing for timely interventions if necessary.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are a hallmark of hair follicle testing in Los Ebanos, TX. The precision in detection surpasses most conventional methods, offering a timely turnaround. Our process ensures that results not only reach you swiftly but also represent the most exact analysis, increasing confidence in the outcome.
The hair follicle process is adept at identifying a wide array of substances with high accuracy. This assurance of precision means that when results are delivered, they provide reliable data critical for decision making.
Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers is paramount in Los Ebanos, TX. Hair follicle tests help uphold zero-tolerance policies, mitigating legal risks while reinforcing safety. By adopting this method, employers can be reassured of maintaining a drug-free workplace effectively.
This testing method aids in fulfilling compliance with regulatory standards, thus, legal liabilities are reduced, and workplace productivity is enhanced.
