Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a timeline of alcohol and drugs by locking biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.
An ideal sample for analysis and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advised to collect 150mg of the sample. It is recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other hair kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage where a sample is processed into a laboratory's system. This process includes checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry that an electronic chain of custody system does not provide.
Screening is a preliminary and rapid examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be verified through confirmation to be considered valid in legal settings. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening need a secondary confirmation.
In the event of a sample testing presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is pulled from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair, albeit at a significantly lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to perform.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing outshines urine testing in Wink, TX by providing a more extensive detection timeline. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis captures a broader range of substance use.
The sensitivity of hair testing delivers superior accuracy, making it a preferred choice for organizations prioritizing drug-free environments.
The ability of hair follicle testing to detect drug use over a significant period, extending up to 90 days, offers Wink, TX employers invaluable insights into their staff's history.
This extended detection window equips employers with a comprehensive perspective on an employee's or applicant's substance history, unmatched by other testing methods.
In Wink, TX, hair follicle tests provide a resilient method against tampering, ensuring samples remain untainted and yielding trusted results.
The design of these tests makes adulteration nearly impossible, offering a reliable solution to detect drug use with unquestionable integrity.
Our network of nationwide testing centers provides Wink, TX residents with effortless access to hair follicle tests, ensuring quick and convenient service.
The process is streamlined for ease, eliminating hassle and enabling efficient access to testing locations throughout various cities.
In Wink, TX, the process of ordering, administering, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is straightforward and confidential, prioritizing user privacy.
This seamless procedure guarantees discretion, accommodating privacy concerns while facilitating ease of use for all involved parties.
Competitive pricing combined with swift turnaround times elevates the value of hair follicle testing services in Wink, TX, catering to companies of varying scales.
These cost-effective solutions ensure businesses achieve reliable results promptly without compromising their financial strategies or timing needs.
In Wink, TX, the rapidity and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests stand unparalleled. These tests swiftly reveal substance use, providing precise data unmatched by other methods.
The meticulous nature of hair testing ensures reliability, making it quintessential for uncovering even the most concealed drug use patterns efficiently.
For Wink, TX employers, hair follicle testing solidifies compliance with drug-free policies, minimizing legal discrepancies and fostering a safer workplace environment.
Employing this testing method offers a sense of assurance and clarity, making it a pivotal component of company drug prevention strategies.