Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has evolved as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair maintains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug presence by encasing biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When sourced from the scalp area, hair can offer detection for drugs and alcohol spanning up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily transportable.
A 1.5-inch hair sample, consisting of approximately 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analysis, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is absent, a similar volume of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four crucial phases in the lab processing of a drug test result encompass Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the sample's preliminary processing within a lab's framework. This stage comprises ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening includes an initial rapid assessment for drug misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug consumption in the majority of cases, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptance. Any samples presumptively positive during Screening require secondary verification.
Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. At this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to alternate methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is notably challenging to execute.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumed positive specimens undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Stanton, TX, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests with its superior detection range and reliability. Hair tests provide substantial advantages with a longer identification window, extending up to 90 days, which urine tests lack.
Thus, with their higher accuracy and less susceptibility to tampering, hair tests deliver peace of mind and secure employment assessments.
Hair follicle testing in Stanton, TX, provides an extended detection period, observing substance usage over a 90-day span. For employers, this wider window offers an expansive overview of an employee's drug use history.
Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing the chances of sample adulteration in Stanton, TX. Reliable and trustworthy, this approach ensures the accuracy and sincerity of drug use results.
This testing method stands as a preferred choice to mitigate concerns regarding sample integrity.
Accredited Drug Testing provides convenience with nationwide and local testing options, including Stanton, TX. Locations are readily accessible, ensuring quick and hassle-free testing experiences.
In Stanton, TX, the hair follicle testing process remains simple and confidential, catering to privacy and user friendliness. Easy to navigate, it involves ordering, taking the test, and receiving results in a secure manner.
The hair follicle testing service in Stanton, TX, offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Valued for its affordability, this option does not compromise on speed, returning results swiftly.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing set it apart in Stanton, TX. Hair tests boast high accuracy, adept at identifying potential substance use. Fast and reliable, this method ensures that results are accurate and returned promptly.
Employers and agencies look to these tests for rapid, dependable results, crucial in maintaining workplace integrity and compliance.
Employers in Stanton, TX, can benefit from adopting hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method enhances workplace safety and reduces legal risks associated with drug use.
