Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by locking in biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg, which is considered the perfect sample size for preliminary screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, it's advised to obtain 150mg. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, the equivalent volume of body hair can be used. 'Head hair' specifically denotes scalp hair while 'body hair' encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a lab drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial introduction of a sample into the lab's system. This stage verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional electronic chain of custody system data that isn't automatically entered.
Screening performs a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a confirmed positive is necessary for legal purposes. Each sample yielding a presumptively positive indication from Screening mandates a secondary confirmation.
In cases where Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for hair drug testing being the most complex methodology to conduct.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are used for confirming any positive screening results. Prior to confirmation, all presumptively positive samples undergo a wash as needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Tabor, VT outperforms traditional urine screenings by providing superior detection accuracy. Its ability to trace drug use over an extended period gives it an edge over urine tests, which typically cover a shorter window.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Tabor, VT extends the detection window up to 90 days, offering a more comprehensive look at drug use history.
Employing hair follicle tests in Mount Tabor, VT provides a tamper-resistant method of drug screening, reducing the risk of sample manipulation.
Convenient locations for hair follicle testing in Mount Tabor, VT mean quick and hassle-free service for all individuals.
In Mount Tabor, VT, the hair follicle test experience is straightforward and confidential, ensuring client ease and privacy.
Affordability and quick turnaround times set hair follicle testing in Mount Tabor, VT apart as a cost-effective choice for businesses.
In Mount Tabor, VT, hair follicle drug testing offers a level of precision that ensures accurate results. This testing method is known for its efficiency in detecting past substance use, making sure that all findings are both reliable and prompt.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Tabor, VT enables employers to adhere to drug-free policies with confidence, reducing potential legal issues.
