Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug usage. Hair enables the capture of a historical profile of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month window of detection for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) and closest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advisable. It's recommended to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. In mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The key stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process includes checking the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any pending data inputs not included by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-efficient method for excluding drug use for most samples; however, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that yield a presumptive positive result during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.
If a sample registers as presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and set up for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair but at much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most intricate methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When compared to the more traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Rupert, VT, offers superior advantages. It surpasses in detection accuracy and reliability, rendering it a preferred choice among many testing facilities. Hair testing's extended detection window and its robustness against sample tampering, make it an unbeatable choice in the realm of drug testing.
In Rupert, VT, the remarkable feature of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to detect drug usage over an extended span, typically up to 90 days. This extended detection window presents employers with a more holistic view of a person's substance habits, offering invaluable data for both pre-employment screenings and ongoing assessments.
Hair follicle tests in Rupert, VT, present a nearly impenetrable defense against sample tampering. The methodologies used significantly diminish any chance of adulteration, thus producing results that carry higher credibility and certainty. This advancement ensures that drug testing remains an effective tool for maintaining integrity in workplace policies.
Rupert, VT is just one location where you can access our broad network of testing facilities nationwide. Our simple process and expansive testing locations make accessibility a breeze, ensuring a seamless, stress-free testing experience whenever and wherever you need it.
Our process in Rupert, VT is designed to be simple and discreet. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward, upholding the highest standards of privacy and convenience. This user-focused approach ensures that drug testing is handled with utmost confidentiality and ease-of-use for all parties involved.
In Rupert, VT, our hair follicle drug testing services are competitively priced, offering value and rapid results for businesses of all sizes. Our reasonable pricing and swift turnaround times emphasize our commitment to delivering cost-effective solutions while ensuring the highest standard of service.
In Rupert, VT, hair follicle testing stands out for their unmatched precision and reliability in substance detection. The ability of these tests to accurately identify various substances ensures that the results are fast, definitive, and trustworthy. It allows organizations to get a true analysis of an individual’s substance use behaviors quickly and without error.
Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, hair follicle testing in Rupert, VT, provides employers peace of mind. By minimizing legal risks and fostering a safer work environment, this method bolsters workplace efficiency and morale. It helps maintain standards that protect both the company and its employees.
