Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended timeline of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers as hair grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug use up to roughly three months prior. The collection process is straightforward, the samples are not easily tampered with, and they are convenient to transport.
A sample comprising 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp should weigh around 100mg, the perfect quantity for both screening and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair here, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result processing in a laboratory is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary handling of a sample, integrating it into a laboratory's system. It ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any supplementary data entry needed that an electronic custody chain does not supply.
Screening performs an initial evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly approach to rule out drug use for most samples, a screen-positive result requires confirmation to be court-admissible. All samples indicating a presumptive positive from Screening need a further confirmation test.
If a Screening test shows a presumptive positive, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. This step extracts drugs from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology to conduct.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive undergo a wash before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Sunnyside, TX can be attributed to superior detection capabilities. Hair testing offers unmatched accuracy and dependability, greatly outshining urine tests.
Extended Detection Window is a primary advantage in Sunnyside, TX. Hair follicle testing can identify drug use over an extended timeframe—up to 90 days—providing employers with a detailed view of an individual’s substance history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing proves its worth in Sunnyside, TX as an effective means to reduce the risk of sample adulteration. Hair tests offer reliable results, significantly decreasing manipulation possibilities.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations make accessing hair follicle tests straightforward in Sunnyside, TX. Our extensive network of centers guarantees ease of service.
Simple, Confidential Process in Sunnyside, TX ensures that our hair follicle testing is straightforward and respects client privacy. Ordering and receiving results are designed to be user-friendly.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround make our services highly competitive in Sunnyside, TX. Our pricing is structured to provide excellent value while ensuring quick delivery of results.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are paramount in Sunnyside, TX. Hair follicle testing provides highly precise and speedy results, making it an invaluable tool in drug detection. Its high accuracy ensures that substance use is identified quickly, providing crucial information at a swift pace.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sunnyside, TX is assured with hair follicle testing. This method adheres to drug-free workplace protocols, lowering legal risks and enhancing safety.
