Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The utilization of hair screening has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term indicators of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. A sample taken from near the scalp can offer a detection period of up to approximately three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
An optimal sample for testing and confirmation consists of a 1.5-inch piece from about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, a similar quantity of body hair could be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes any other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory examination of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a specimen upon its entry into the laboratory's system. This step confirms the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any data entry not provided through an electronic custody chain.
Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening efficiently excludes drug use in the majority of tests, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples with presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
When a sample shows presumptive positivity in the Screening stage, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. In this phase, hair undergoes drug extraction at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging technique to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technology. Presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation as determined necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly known as "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair strand and not on the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Windthorst, TX Hair testing provides numerous advantages over traditional urine tests, particularly in detection accuracy and reliability. Employers favor this method for its unbeaten capability of detecting prolonged substance abuse histories, making it a preferable choice against conventional urine tests in revealing drug use over extended periods.
Extended Detection Window in Windthorst, TX Hair follicle testing excels by offering a longer detection window, capable of revealing drug use extending to 90 days. This ensures companies get a holistic view of an individual's substance use history, which is invaluable for informed decision-making regarding potential hires or current employees.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Windthorst, TX Hair follicle drug tests significantly minimize the risk of sample tampering. The process is inherently more secure, giving companies peace of mind with results that are both reliable and unquestionable, safeguarding against attempts to alter the test outcomes.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Windthorst, TX Our testing centers spread nationwide, offering unparalleled convenience by ensuring swift and easy access to testing services no matter the location, making the whole process of drug testing stress-free for clients.
Simple, Confidential Process in Windthorst, TX With our straightforward hair follicle test procedures, privacy and ease of access are guaranteed. From ordering to receiving your confidential results, each step is designed with user comfort and confidentiality at its core.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Windthorst, TX Offering competitive prices along with swift result processing times, we aim to provide unmatched value and assurance to businesses of varying scales. Our services retain quality while ensuring budget consciousness.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Windthorst, TX Hair follicle tests deliver precise and swift results, swiftly detecting substance use with unmatched accuracy. This method stands out for its high precision in unveiling drug usage, offering tests not only fast but also dependable, ensuring employers and institutions receive trustworthy data when needed most.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Windthorst, TX By integrating hair follicle testing, employers can assure compliance with mandated drug-free policies, considerably reducing potential legal consequences while enhancing overall workplace safety and culture.
