Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the growing hair's fibers. When collected from the scalp area, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hairs (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional options, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. Whenever referring to head hair, it means only the scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and sent, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data that an electronic chain of custody system does not provide.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for illegal drugs. Screening is a budget-friendly approach for dismissing drug use on most samples, but a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal scenarios. Any samples that show presumptive positives in Screening require further verification.
Should a sample show a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.
Any positive screening result is verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle
In Winter Haven, TX, hair follicle testing offers remarkable advantages over urine tests. It excels in detection accuracy and extends reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair evaluations are not just resilient against short-term flushing but also uncover longer-term use.
For employers, the decision between hair and urine tests is clear. While urine tests provide a snapshot, hair testing gives a comprehensive view of an individual’s drug history, enhancing both security and insight.
Hair follicle testing in Winter Haven, TX, offers an extended detection window that truly sets it apart. It provides a detailed drug use history, capturing substance intake for up to 90 days, compared to the brief period urine tests offer.
Employers seeking thorough assessments find hair testing invaluable. Knowing an individual’s drug usage over months delivers a deeper understanding of their substance habits, vital for informed employment decisions.
In Winter Haven, TX, hair follicle tests provide an impressive tamper-resistant method. Their design significantly minimizes the chances of sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of results.
This robustness assures decision-makers. With the reduced risk of tampering, efforts to evade detection are futile, granting peace of mind in the reliability of the outcomes derived from hair testing.
Convenient access to testing is facilitated through our nationwide testing centers in Winter Haven, TX. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that accessing testing services is quick and hassle-free, responding effectively to immediate needs.
Our strategically located centers emphasize ease of reach, minimizing travel burden. This national network supports both individual and corporate requirements seamlessly, amplifying accessibility and service availability.
In Winter Haven, TX, undergoing hair follicle testing is a simple and confidential process. From ordering to receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns about security.
The assurance of confidentiality throughout the process promotes trust. This straightforward system is designed to deliver accurate information securely, valuing both accuracy and discretion in equal measure.
Accredited Drug Testing prides itself on offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround in Winter Haven, TX. Our competitive pricing ensures companies of all sizes receive excellent value without compromising on quality.
With quick result times, businesses can proceed with less delay. This balance of cost-efficiency and rapid service offerings positions hair testing as a preferred choice, giving companies confidence with each test.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing in Winter Haven, TX, are unmatched. These tests stand out for their accurate detection of substance use, providing reliable results rapidly. When timely and precise results are critical, hair tests offer an ideal solution for pinpointing substance presence.
With hair follicle analysis, individuals can trust the speed and accuracy of the results. In fields where decision-making depends on dependable data, the efficacy of hair testing supports fast and informed judgments.
The assurance of using hair follicle testing is evident in Winter Haven, TX, especially for companies aiming for compliance with drug-free policies. It aids employers in reducing legal risks while enhancing workplace safety by ensuring no drug misuse within the team.
Companies that adopt hair testing reinforce their commitment to policy adherence. This approach not only safeguards the workplace but also promotes a culture of trust and accountability among employees.
