Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as a strong method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal drug or alcohol presence for up to a 3-month period. This makes hair collection straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily transportable.
Taking a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hairs (roughly the same width as a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the preferred amount for both initial and confirmation tests. For any EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. The specimen weight should ideally be confirmed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equal volume of body hair may be used. When we say head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes other types such as facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first step, involving processing a sample into the laboratory’s database. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other essential data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening is an affordable method to eliminate drug use in many samples, a Screening that yields a positive result needs confirmation for legal evidence. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening call for a secondary validation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction stage. In this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower levels than other methods like urine or oral fluids, highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually assess the hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Leads Over Urine Testing in North Salt Lake, UT
Employing hair follicle testing enhances confidence in results due to its accurate and comprehensive result metrics.
Hair follicle testing unveils drug use over a much extended duration, reaching up to 90 days. This capability is significant for employers in North Salt Lake, UT, offering an extensive overview of an individual’s substance use history.
The comprehensive detection window empowers employers, giving them a full picture of potential hires or current employees, thus enhancing informed decision-making in the workplace.
Hair follicle testing mitigates the risk of sample contamination or alteration. This method offers a trustworthy defense against tampering, ensuring test results are authentic and credible.
The accessibility of convenient testing centers throughout North Salt Lake, UT, and nationwide caters to a seamless testing experience. This network guarantees rapid and straightforward access to drug testing services.
Undertaking a hair follicle drug test ensures a simple and confidential process in North Salt Lake, UT. From initiation to result acquisition, it's designed to address privacy and comfort.
Our seamless structure ensures privacy, offering a user-friendly journey throughout the testing period for all participants.
Our competitive pricing for hair follicle drug tests in North Salt Lake, UT offers companies value while ensuring quick result turnaround. This efficiency ensures businesses of all sizes receive quality service without delay.
The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug testing in North Salt Lake, UT offer unmatched accuracy. These tests diligently identify substance use, ensuring that results are both swift and dependable. Hair tests are invaluable for their capacity to deliver clear insights into a person's drug history.
Accurate results from these tests protect against errors, minimizing uncertainties associated with drug screening. This blend of fast turnaround and precise detection marks hair follicle tests as superior.
Incorporating hair follicle testing aligns with company drug-free regulations, ensuring procedural adherence while diminishing legal liabilities.
This testing boosts a tranquil work setting, reassuring both employers and employees within North Salt Lake, UT, about maintaining a compliant and safe workplace. Peace of mind comes from ensuring compliance and boosting workplace safety.
