Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a long-term record of alcohol and drugs, capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide up to nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) next to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is suggested to use 150mg of the specimen. We advise measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The primary stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab's system. This process involves verifying the sample's seal and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary swift check for drug abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a sample is tentatively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening notably challenging to conduct.
Verification of any positive Screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples are cleaned as needed before Confirmation. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and follows ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why choose hair follicle testing over urine tests in Quinlan, TX? Hair tests offer unparalleled benefits, superior to traditional urine tests in several aspects.
Their accuracy in detection and reliability make them a preferred method, providing a comprehensive evaluation that urine tests often lack.
Hair follicle tests in Quinlan, TX, provide an unmatched extended detection window, tracing drug use for up to 90 days.
This extensive period allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, surpassing the typical range of urine testing.
In Quinlan, TX, hair follicle testing significantly reduces the chance of tampering, offering trustworthy and unassailable results.
The nature of hair testing minimizes sample manipulation risks, ensuring the integrity of the test outcome is maintained.
Accredited Drug Testing ensures testing convenience with locations across the nation and locally in Quinlan, TX.
The widespread network provides quick, easy access, facilitating a hassle-free testing experience for everyone involved.
In Quinlan, TX, hair follicle testing is streamlined to be simple and confidential, addressing all privacy concerns efficiently.
The process from ordering to receiving results is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring ease of use for all participants.
Offering competitive pricing, Accredited Drug Testing in Quinlan, TX, ensures fast turnaround times for all hair follicle tests.
This provides excellent value for businesses, ranging from small enterprises to large corporations, who prioritize both cost and speed.
In Quinlan, TX, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. Their precision in detecting substances is unparalleled, offering a high level of accuracy.
The speed with which results are delivered, combined with their dependability, sets hair follicle testing apart, ensuring rapid and correct determinations of drug use.
Employers in Quinlan, TX, find peace of mind in hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies effectively.
This method not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances workplace safety by ensuring compliance and maintaining a secure environment.