Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. It offers a comprehensive timeline of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage up to roughly a 3-month span. It's straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, ideal for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, extended panels, and screenings exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precise specimen measurement. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. It's crucial to note that head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other types, including facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the primary step of introducing a sample into the lab's system. This procedure encompasses verifying the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data recording not included by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a swift preliminary test for substances of abuse. It’s a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, but a positive screen must be corroborated to be legally acceptable. Samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate further verification.
When a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial sample undergoes Extraction preparation. In Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than those detected in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is particularly challenging.
Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positives undergo a cleansing process before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory protocol, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Newcastle, UT, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests, providing enhanced detection and accuracy for drug screening. These tests offer:
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Newcastle, UT, makes it highly effective for employers. Unlike urine tests, it:
Hair follicle tests in Newcastle, UT, offer significant advantages due to their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other methods, they:
Accredited Drug Testing ensures accessibility with nationwide and local centers in Newcastle, UT. This network provides:
In Newcastle, UT, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. The steps include:
Offering competitive pricing, hair follicle testing in Newcastle, UT, delivers excellent value alongside fast turnaround times. This includes:
In Newcastle, UT, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate detection of substance use. Their precision in identifying banned substances is unmatched, ensuring reliable results.
Employers in Newcastle, UT, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This method: