Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments have become recognized as a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term account of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and illicit substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and easy to mail.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing around 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, deemed the perfect quantity for testing and validation. For EtG supplements, as well as tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's recommended to measure the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be taken. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Other body hairs include all additional types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The core steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a specimen into the lab’s system. This encompasses verifying the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any remaining data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening acts as an initial straightforward assessment for substances. While Screening efficiently rules out drug usage for the majority of samples, confirmation is required to substantiate a positive screen for court admission. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.
If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging to implement.
Any positive result during Screening is confirmed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that test presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the actual examination targets the hair strand and not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests in Opdyke West, TX, outperform traditional urine testing in multiple ways. Hair testing offers superior accuracy and reliability.
Hair follicle tests in Opdyke West, TX, offer an extended detection period, revealing drug usage for up to 90 days. Employers gain valuable insight into an individual's drug use history.
Ensuring tamper resistance, hair follicle testing in Opdyke West, TX, mitigates sample adulteration risks, yielding trustworthy results.
Testing centers accessible nationwide, including in Opdyke West, TX, ensure a straightforward and rapid process. Easy access to testing locations facilitates logistic convenience.
The process in Opdyke West, TX, is simple and confidential, safeguarding privacy and ensuring ease at each step of ordering, sampling, and receiving results.
Opdyke West, TX, benefits from affordable pricing and swift results, ensuring cost-effectiveness for businesses regardless of size.
The speed and precision of hair follicle testing in Opdyke West, TX, are unmatched. Results provide a high degree of accuracy in detecting drug use.
Hair follicle testing in Opdyke West, TX, supports employer compliance with drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and promoting safety at work.
