Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands of hair retain markers of alcohol and other substances within the fibers over time. Hair taken from near the head surface can detect substance use for about 90 days. This sample is easy to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A section of hair measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness), yields 100mg, which is ideal for both initial and confirmatory tests. For EtG, additional tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing is advisable. If head hair isn't available, the same quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers strictly to hair from the scalp, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types such as facial or underarm hair.
Overview of the Procedure
There are four crucial phases in processing a drug testing sample in a lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
The Accessioning phase marks the initial intake of a sample into the lab's workflow. This step includes confirming the sample's intact sealing and shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any other data input not handled by automated systems.
Screening involves an expedited preliminary check for drug presence. Although Screening is a cost-efficient measure for negating drug use in most cases, a positive indication requires validation before it holds in legal settings. Any samples flagged in Screening as potentially positive necessitate further substantiation.
When a sample is marked presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted and readied for the Extraction phase. Drugs within hair are extracted at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), rendering hair analysis a complex procedure.
Confirmation of a positive Screen is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples labeled presumptive positive are thoroughly cleansed before Confirmation if required. The comprehensive procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) standards for Hair and complies with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Benefits of hair drug tests:
Drawbacks:
Note: This is commonly named a "hair follicle test", but it refers to the analysis of the hair strand, not the scalp's follicle.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in New Ulm, TX
Extended Detection Window in New Ulm, TX
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in New Ulm, TX
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in New Ulm, TX
Simple, Confidential Process in New Ulm, TX
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in New Ulm, TX
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in New Ulm, TX
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in New Ulm, TX