Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended timeline of substance usage by preserving biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. If collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately three-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, manipulation-resistant, and simple to transport.
Acquiring a 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the hair specimen. If the scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent body hair amount can be used. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair. "Body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Outline
The laboratory drug testing process encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into the lab's system, ensuring it's correctly sealed and transported, then assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and any extra data entry that is needed beyond an electronic chain of custody system is completed.
Screening offers a quick preliminary check for drugs. While Screening is an economical way to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive results necessitate validation for courtroom admissibility. Presumptive positives in Screening require secondary confirmation.
If a presumptive positive is detected in the Screening phase, additional hair is retrieved from the sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives receive a wash before Confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process—from Accessioning through Confirmation—adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Restrictions:
Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Lee Mont, VA, stands out for its effectiveness over traditional urine tests. It offers superior detection accuracy, ensuring no recent substance use escapes unnoticed. Longer detection windows provide a comprehensive overview of behavior patterns, making it a reliable method for substance use identification.
The advantages of hair testing over urine tests include reduced manipulation risk and a broader detection frame. For employers, this means not only accurate results but also greater peace of mind, ensuring a thoroughly drug-free workplace environment.
Hair follicle tests in Lee Mont, VA, offer an extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This feature provides employers a more thorough understanding of an individual's long-term substance use patterns, offering valuable insight into an applicant or employee's past behavior.
Employers benefit from the comprehensive view that hair testing delivers. Unlike shorter-term methods, it reveals consistent trends over several months, a crucial factor when making informed hiring or retention decisions.
One of the standout benefits of hair follicle testing in Lee Mont, VA, is its resistance to tampering. This method minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring unbiased and reliable results that can be trusted for critical decision-making.
The integrity of hair testing is a critical advantage. It ensures that sample security is maintained, and results remain reliable and objective, reducing doubts about manipulation. This bolsters confidence in the testing outcomes.
Access to drug testing is simplified in Lee Mont, VA, and nationwide through Accredited Drug Testing's widespread centers. This extensive network ensures convenient and swift access to testing services, reducing travel time and hassle for individuals seeking tests.
Local and nationwide testing locations provide easy, flexible, and efficient options for securing necessary drug tests. This convenience is paramount, especially for employers requiring quick turnarounds in large-scale testing situations.
Ordering and completing a hair follicle test in Lee Mont, VA, is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From start to finish, the process respects privacy while ensuring ease of use, addressing concerns efficiently.
The confidential nature of hair testing maintains individual privacy, and its simplicity ensures that clients receive results in a hassle-free manner. Clear instructions and support enhance the user experience, prioritizing trust and convenience.
Accredited Drug Testing in Lee Mont, VA, offers competitive pricing for hair follicle tests without compromising on quality. The fast turnaround time ensures clients receive results promptly, reflecting exceptional value for businesses of all sizes.
Affordable testing options paired with rapid results delivery make hair testing a cost-effective option for companies. This ensures businesses can maintain efficacy in their drug-testing policies without excessive spending.
In Lee Mont, VA, hair follicle drug tests provide fast and accurate results. This method's precision is a key advantage, allowing for the detection of substances with remarkable accuracy. The rapid processing time ensures that results are delivered promptly, making it a reliable option for timely decision-making.
Employers can trust hair follicle tests for their unmatched accuracy in identifying substance use. The speed and reliability of these tests ensure that companies receive exact information about employee substance history without delays, facilitating efficient management.
Hair follicle testing in Lee Mont, VA, helps employers adhere to drug-free policy regulations, maintaining compliance. By choosing this testing method, companies mitigate legal risks and promote a safer workplace environment.
Compliance with drug-testing policies through hair analysis fosters not only legal safety but also a culture of accountability and safety. Employers gain peace of mind knowing they are supporting workplace safety and integrity.
