Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a lengthy history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of an extending hair strand. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month timeframe for detecting substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, it is advised to gather 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing is advised. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in processing a drug test in the laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage of entering a sample into a lab’s system. This phase ensures that the specimen was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performs any further data logging not available via an electronic chain of custody platform.
Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug usage in most samples, any positive result requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.
If a specimen tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original batch and prepared for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at a significantly reduced concentration than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the hardest methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive outcome from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The total process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Huntington, VA, hair follicle tests provide several advantages over traditional urine tests. Firstly, they offer a much longer detection window, capturing substance use over extensive periods. Secondly, hair tests are nearly impossible to tamper with, ensuring more reliable results. With their superior detection capabilities, hair follicle testing is becoming a favored choice among employers and legal entities for its enhanced accuracy and trustworthiness.
Hair follicle testing in Huntington, VA extends the detection period for drug use significantly, up to 90 days. This extensive window allows employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history, offering a more comprehensive perspective than shorter-term tests. The ability to view such a broad timeframe is invaluable for making informed decisions regarding employment and compliance with drug-free policies.
In Huntington, VA, hair follicle tests are renowned for being a tamper-resistant method for substance detection. Unlike other tests, they significantly minimize the risk of sample adulteration, thus ensuring authentic results. This reliability makes them a trusted choice for environments where accuracy is critical, such as workplaces with stringent no-drug policies or legal settings where evidence cannot be questioned.
Our nationwide network of testing centers, including those in Huntington, VA, offers unparalleled convenience for hair follicle drug testing. With readily available local and national facilities, scheduling and accessing testing services is straightforward and hassle-free. This accessibility ensures that no matter where you are, testing is a seamless and efficient process, enhancing the overall user experience.
In Huntington, VA, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, undergoing the test, and receiving results are streamlined steps, ensuring user privacy and ease. This process addresses any concerns regarding discretion, making it straightforward for individuals or employers seeking reliable substance screening without the worry of confidentiality breaches.
Our hair follicle testing services in Huntington, VA offer attractive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing immense value for businesses of any size. The competitive pricing structure coupled with quick delivery of results ensures that companies can quickly and effectively manage substance testing without straining resources, allowing for efficient workforce management and peace of mind.
The efficiency and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Huntington, VA ensure quick and reliable results. This method stands out for its precision in detecting a wide range of substances effectively, making it a preferred choice for those seeking accurate and timely screenings. Hair testing not only identifies substance use efficiently but also does so faster than many traditional methods, reinforcing its reliability in various professional contexts.
Employers in Huntington, VA can achieve peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing method helps minimize legal risks and fosters a safer work environment by providing accurate and reliable results. By adopting this testing, companies can create a safer, more compliant, and harmonious workplace atmosphere for all employees.
