Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by incorporating biomarkers within the hair strand's growth fibers. When trimmed near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, the chance of tampering is low, and shipping is uncomplicated.
A 1.5-inch segment containing around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Employ a jeweler's scale for accurate measurement. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be used instead. Head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair only, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four pivotal phases in processing a drug test in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the sample's initial processing into the lab's framework. It confirms the sample's seal and correct shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entry that an electronic chain of custody doesn’t already cover.
Screening constitutes a preliminary assessment for drug misuse. Though Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug consumption in most samples, any positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples that test as presumptively positive in Screening proceed to a secondary verification.
Should a sample test as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and gets ready for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn out from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), which makes hair drug analysis the most complex methodology to execute.
Verification of any positive screening is completed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples tentatively positive undergo a wash as required before confirmation. The full ordeal from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and is certified according to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Sun Valley, TX
Hair testing outperforms urine tests by covering up to 90 days of usage history.
Extended Detection Window in Sun Valley, TX
Hair follicle tests provide a broad view of drug history for up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Sun Valley, TX
Hair tests offer unmatched integrity, minimizing result tampering.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Sun Valley, TX
Our extensive network simplifies the testing process.
Simple, Confidential Process in Sun Valley, TX
Ordering and results are seamless and discreet.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Sun Valley, TX
Competitive rates meet swift processing times.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Sun Valley, TX
Hair follicle drug testing offers precision unmatched by traditional methods.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sun Valley, TX
Adopting hair testing supports drug-free workplace initiatives.
