Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now considered a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of alcohol and drug presence by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collected from near the scalp, hair can deliver up to around a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing around 200 hair strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp equates to 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We endorse using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory framework. It entails verifying that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any supplementary data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening entails an initial expedient examination for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage in most samples, a favorable screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate secondary validation.
Should a sample register presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is harvested from the original sample and processed for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at concentrations considerably lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging methodology to execute.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed before verification if required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle tests surpass urine tests in Brian Head, UT, offering superior detection for substance use.
Comparative Benefits
With an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Brian Head, UT, provides a detailed insight into an individual’s drug use history.
Long-Term Tracking
In Brian Head, UT, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant solution for drug testing, ensuring sample integrity.
Secure Testing
In Brian Head, UT, convenient nation-wide testing locations make hair follicle testing easily accessible.
Ease of Access
Hair follicle testing in Brian Head, UT, offers a streamlined and confidential process for both companies and individuals.
Process Simplicity
In Brian Head, UT, affordable pricing and quick turnaround times characterize hair follicle testing services.
Cost-Effectiveness
In Brian Head, UT, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision, offering fast and reliable results. This accuracy ensures effective detection of a wide range of substances.
High Accuracy
Employers in Brian Head, UT, achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing.
Workplace Assurance