Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The perception of hair testing has evolved into an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol use over a period of up to three months. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
An ideal sample for testing and validation requires a 1.5-inch section comprising approximately 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG testing, additional testing, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be utilized. By 'head hair', we mean only scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
There are four pivotal stages in processing a drug test result within the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary intake of a sample into the laboratory framework, ensuring it was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient examination for negating drug use, any positive results must undergo confirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples flagged as presumptive positives during Screening require further verification.
For presumptively positive samples, additional hair is taken from the initial sample to prepare for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at notably lower concentrations than other testing methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing exceptionally challenging.
Any positive findings from Screening are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo necessary pre-confirmation washing. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation follows CAP (College of American Pathologists) standards for Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though frequently called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over urine testing in Speaks, TX. It provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, enabling employers to adhere to their drug-free policies effectively. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis offers a longer and more precise detection window.
Employers value hair tests for their consistency, leading to confident hiring decisions.
With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Speaks, TX, allows employers to gain a comprehensive insight into an individual’s drug use history.
This prolonged assessment period helps employers understand long-term substance use patterns, making employment screening more thorough and reliable.
Hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant method in Speaks, TX, significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration. Compared to more traditional testing types, the integrity of hair samples remains intact, ensuring unquestionable and precise results.
Employers trust this method for its robustness against manipulation attempts.
With nationwide and local testing centers in Speaks, TX, obtaining a hair follicle test has never been more convenient.
These readily accessible locations enable quick, hassle-free services for individuals and employers alike, ensuring the testing process is smooth and efficient across the board.
The hair follicle testing process in Speaks, TX is both simple and confidential, designed to respect privacy.
Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are streamlined and secure, addressing users’ concerns effectively while maintaining confidentiality.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Speaks, TX, hair follicle testing provides excellent value to companies of all sizes.
Affordable testing ensures peace of mind, knowing that pricing structures won't compromise the quality or speed of obtaining reliable results.
In Speaks, TX, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and precision. Featuring high accuracy, these tests effectively detect substance use, providing results that stakeholders trust. Faster than traditional methods, they allow for timely decision-making.
Users benefit from the quick process, minimizing wait times while ensuring thorough screening.
For employers in Speaks, TX, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, bringing peace of mind.
Employers reduce legal liabilities and enhance safety within the workplace by implementing this comprehensive testing approach. The assurance of untainted results supports maintaining company standards effectively.
