Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair examinations are increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When taken from the scalp's proximity, hair can reveal up to a 3-month timeline for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. It is advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Summary
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's process. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any additional data processing not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result in Screening must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.
In cases where a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any screening result labeled positive is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
For those in Olney, TX, hair follicle testing stands out as a superior choice over traditional urine tests. Unmatched detection accuracy sets hair testing apart, ensuring that even low-level substance use is identified.
The hair test's reliability gives employers confidence in their zero-tolerance policies, offering an extensive view of an individual's substance history compared to the limited window of urine testing.
In Olney, TX, hair follicle testing offers an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, far exceeding that of urine tests. This level of comprehensive analysis provides a thorough overview of an individual's drug use history.
Employers benefit from this extended timeframe, granting them the capability to make informed decisions based on a full understanding of the substance usage patterns of applicants or employees.
The risk of sample tampering in Olney, TX, is dramatically reduced through the use of hair follicle testing. This testing method is designed to be nearly impregnable to adulteration, safeguarding the integrity of the results.
The reliability of hair tests makes them an ideal choice for ensuring precision and authenticity, with little room for questions or discrepancies in the test outcomes.
Our testing services in Olney, TX, are bolstered by a network of nationwide and local centers, allowing for convenient access to quick and hassle-free testing.
This vast availability of testing locations ensures that individuals and employers can benefit from easy, streamlined testing processes, without geographical constraints or logistical concerns.
In Olney, TX, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and private, ensuring that clients can easily order, undergo, and receive results with confidence.
Confidentiality is paramount, as we prioritize protecting individual privacy throughout the testing procedure, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience from start to finish.
Offering competitive pricing in Olney, TX, our hair follicle testing services provide excellent value for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Coupled with fast turnaround times, we deliver substantial benefits.
This affordability allows a wider range of clients to access top-tier testing, ensuring quick results without compromising on the quality or reliability of the analysis.
In Olney, TX, the process of hair follicle drug testing guarantees fast and reliable outcomes, ensuring that results are not only swift but also precise. Accuracy is a defining feature of these tests, as they proficiently detect both drug and alcohol usage, delivering dependable results.
Employers and other stakeholders can trust the efficiency of hair follicle testing, which detects past substance use with precision, minimizing doubts about the integrity of the process in Olney, TX, and beyond.
Hair follicle testing in Olney, TX, supports employers in adhering to workplace drug-free policies, providing compliance assurance while enhancing safety and reducing legal liabilities.
Implementing hair testing brings peace of mind as employers maintain strict no-tolerance policies, utilizing reliable testing methods that foster workplace integrity and security.
