Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now considered a vital method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extensive history of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When fetched near the scalp, it can detect alcohol and drug presence for almost a 3-month span. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches comprising about 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If head hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test entails four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the sample's preliminary processing into the lab's system, assuring the sample's seal and shipment were correct, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addressing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary swift examination for drug misuse. Though Screening cost-effectively excludes drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positives in Screening mandate a further confirmation step.
Should a sample appear presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair from the original sample is utilized for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.
Verification of any positive screen occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes a cleansing step before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation falls under the scrutiny of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle tests to urine screenings in Union, TX, several advantages emerge. Hair testing boasts superior detection reliability and accuracy, making it advantageous over traditional urine tests. These tests provide a comprehensive insight into an individual's substance use history, enhancing trust in the results due to their advanced analytical methods.
In Union, TX, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window reaching up to 90 days, surpassing the timeframe of urine screenings. This broad window enables employers to acquire a comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use history, critical for holistic evaluations and fostering informed decisions regarding potential and current employees.
In Union, TX, hair follicle testing is recognized for its resilience against tampering, offering a significant reduction in the risks associated with sample adulteration compared to other methods. This ensures that employers and legal entities receive reliable and unquestionable results, maintaining the integrity of the drug screening process.
Our Union, TX location is part of a wider network of convenient nationwide testing centers. This ensures that individuals and companies can access testing services quickly and hassle-free, whether they are in a major city or a small town. The widespread availability contributes to easy and efficient testing processes.
The hair follicle testing process in Union, TX, is both simple and confidential. From ordering to taking tests and receiving results, the entire procedure is streamlined to protect individual privacy, easing any concerns about confidentiality while maintaining a high ease-of-use factor for all involved.
In Union, TX, hair follicle testing is offered at competitive pricing with swift turnaround times, making this reliable testing method accessible for businesses of any size. This combination of affordability and efficiency ensures that companies receive exceptional value and peace of mind regarding their substance use assessments.
In Union, TX, the dramarc 3D precision and rapidity of hair follicle tests set them apart from other drug screening methods. These tests are highly accurate, enabling detection of substance use with exceptional reliability, ensuring minimal error, and providing results within a swift timeframe.Individuals can anticipate speed without sacrificing accuracy in reporting, reinforcing trust in the test outcomes.
Employers in Union, TX, find peace of mind using hair follicle testing to keep workplace drug-free policies maintained. This testing method aids in compliance, reducing legal liabilities while enhancing workplace safety by ensuring a rigorously drug-free environment, aligning with regulatory standards and promoting overall well-being.