Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become acknowledged as an effective mechanism for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug activity by capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand. When acquired close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and drugs stretching up to about three months. Hair is straightforward to obtain, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hairs (approximately equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unobtainable, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we exclusively mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning comprises the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory’s framework. This process ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody platform.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening serves as a budget-friendly approach to dismiss drug usage across the majority of samples, any positive screen must be validated to be permissible in legal settings. Samples that exhibit presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
Should a sample indicate presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen and made ready for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn out of hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral secretions), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples exhibiting presumptive positivity are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes assessment under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Even though commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy and dependability. It allows the identification of a broader range of substances over a longer period. This makes hair tests an excellent choice for organizations requiring strict substance use policies, ensuring reliable outcomes that are more challenging to falsify.
Extended Detection Window in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
Hair follicle testing boasts a detection window of up to 90 days, vastly surpassing the limited timeframe of urine tests. This extended period gives employers a thorough view of an individual’s history of substance use, allowing for informed decision-making regarding potential hires or current employees.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
The robustness of hair follicle tests significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. This makes them a highly reliable choice for drug screening, as the detection process is designed to ensure the integrity of the results, providing assurance of their validity.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
With numerous testing centers spread across the nation and in Ranchitos Las Lomas, our services guarantee ease of access and prompt service. This extensive network ensures that obtaining a drug test is a straightforward and trouble-free experience for all clients.
Simple, Confidential Process in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is a straightforward and confidential process. We prioritize client privacy, ensuring an uncomplicated procedure that caters to sensitive data handling, fostering a trust-based relationship with our clients.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
We offer competitive pricing and quick result turnaround, valuing our clients’ time and budget. This approach ensures that businesses, regardless of size, benefit from top-tier drug testing services without financial strain.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
Hair follicle drug tests stand out by delivering speedy and precise results. These tests are incredibly accurate, providing a dependable means to detect substance use. This precision ensures that results reflect the individual’s true drug use history, offering peace of mind to employers and substance abuse professionals alike.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX
Employers leverage hair follicle testing to achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal vulnerabilities and promoting safety. By implementing this reliable testing method, businesses can maintain a secure, productive environment.
