Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The recognition of hair testing as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption has increased. Hair retains a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. Collecting hair near the scalp offers a detection timeline of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is easy, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
Acquiring a 1.5-inch segment containing approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, an optimal quantity for screening and validation. For EtG supplements, and/or tests above 10 panels, it is advised to collect 150mg of the hair sample. It is advisable to measure the sample with a jeweler’s scale. In absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When speaking of head hair, it pertains only to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair areas (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug testing laboratory process encompasses four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into the laboratory framework. This involves ensuring the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering additional data not included within an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening constitutes an initial assessment for abuse drugs. While it offers a cost-efficient method to disregard drug usage in most samples, a positive screening result necessitates confirmation for court submissions. Samples deemed presumptive positives in Screening require further substantiation.
Upon obtaining a presumptive positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug analysis.
Confirmation follows any positive screening outcomes using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Necessary presumptive positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being often labeled "hair follicle tests", these tests examine the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Cleveland, VA, the former stands out due to superior detection accuracy. Hair tests offer a much longer window for uncovering drug history, thus assuring more reliable results. This comprehensive detection capacity makes hair testing invaluable for employers who must maintain zero-tolerance policies on substance use.
Hair follicle testing in Cleveland, VA, boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This long-term detection capability provides employers with a more complete understanding of an individual's substance use history. Such a window is far greater than typical urine tests, granting a clearer view of a person's long-term habits.
In Cleveland, VA, hair testing offers a tamper-resistant approach to drug screening, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks. The nature of hair collection and analysis ensures that results remain unquestionably reliable, providing trustworthy outcomes essential for accurate employee assessments.
In Cleveland, VA, finding convenient testing centers is seamless due to our nationwide presence. Facilitating easy access to hair follicle testing services, this broad network ensures quick, hassle-free service, making the process efficient and accessible for individuals across various locations.
The process in Cleveland, VA, for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, procedures are streamlined to protect privacy, ensuring clients can comfortably use the service without concerns over confidentiality breaches, maintaining ease of use throughout.
In Cleveland, VA, we offer affordable pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our competitive pricing structure ensures excellent value, catering to companies of all sizes who require effective yet budget-friendly drug testing solutions to secure their workplace environment.
In Cleveland, VA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast and accurate results. This methodology excels in detecting substance use with high precision, making it a dependable choice for assessing drug history. Hair testing's accuracy stems from its capability to identify a broad range of drugs over an extended period, ensuring reliable outcomes rapidly.
Implementing hair follicle testing in Cleveland, VA, helps employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks and promotes workplace safety by providing clear and reliable drug use data, fostering a secure environment where peace of mind prevails.
