Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a historical record of drug and alcohol intake by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. Sampling hair near the scalp can reveal up to roughly a 3-month indication window for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. “Head hair” is specifically referring to scalp hair. “Body hair” encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four primary phases in the lab processing of drug tests: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This phase includes confirming appropriate sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a swift initial assessment for substance abuse. While a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in a majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be legally valid. Samples suspected of being positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.
When Screening suggests a possible positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), adding to the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, any presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The entire laboratory cycle from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP’s (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Rios, TX, significantly surpasses urine testing in terms of detection accuracy and reliability. The hair tests provide a more comprehensive overview of drug use, offering exceptional reliability. Traditional urine tests can underestimate this capability, thus spotlighting the superiority of hair testing methods.
Hair follicle testing in Rios, TX, boasts an extended detection window, uncovering drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This extended timeline grants employers a detailed view of substance use history, offering a broader understanding when assessing employees or applicants.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Rios, TX, significantly minimizes the risk of tampering. The inherent nature of hair tests makes them highly resistant to adulteration, ensuring the reliability and authenticity of the results obtained, making it a commendable choice for verifiable testing.
With convenient testing locations in Rios, TX, and nationwide, accessing hair follicle testing is straightforward and hassle-free. These numerous centers ensure fast, easy, and convenient access to testing services, streamlining the process for individuals and employers alike.
The process of hair follicle testing in Rios, TX, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, the entire procedure prioritizes privacy and simplicity, addressing any concerns about ease of use and maintaining client confidentiality throughout.
Hair follicle testing in Rios, TX, offers affordable pricing structures and rapid turnaround times. Our competitive rates and expedited results offer excellent value, catering to the needs of companies of all sizes, ensuring both cost-efficiency and timely reporting.
In Rios, TX, hair follicle testing provides fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests detect substance use with a high degree of precision, quickly delivering insights into an individual's drug history. Individuals and employers benefit from the ease and speed of obtaining results, allowing for timely decision-making.
Employers in Rios, TX, find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, as it ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By implementing such testing, companies mitigate legal liabilities, enhance safety standards, and foster a secure work environment for all employees.
