Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their growing fibers, providing a long-term record of substance use. When hair is taken from close to the scalp, it can reveal drug or alcohol usage for up to three months. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) taken near the scalp yields a 100mg sample, optimal for testing and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's best to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other hair types (beard, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory examination of a drug test result involves four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial introduction of a sample into the laboratory's database. This step confirms correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry absent from an electronic custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical means of excluding drug use in most cases, a positive result here must be validated to be courtroom-eligible. Any samples that test positive during Screening need a further confirmation step.
Should a sample return a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further Examination. In this step, drugs are drawn out from hair at lower concentrations than seen with other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), hence making hair drug analysis one of the most challenging methods to execute.
Positive Screening findings undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples poised as positive are cleansed before Confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory workflow, from Accessioning through Confirmation, complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifics and ISO / IEC 17025 certification standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the skin.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Airy, VA offers numerous advantages over urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy is unmatched, providing a clearer picture of an individual's drug use. Unlike urine testing, hair tests are less susceptible to tampering, ensuring results are genuine and defensible in professional settings.
Employers prefer hair testing due to its long detection period, up to 90 days, offering a comprehensive view of a person's substance habits. This makes hair testing a more reliable choice for evaluating potential hires or monitoring existing employees.
One significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Mount Airy, VA is its extended detection window. Unlike traditional methods, hair testing can identify drug usage up to 90 days prior, giving employers a broader understanding of an individual's substance history.
This method allows businesses to assess potential and current employees more thoroughly. The longer detection period ensures that any substance use is captured, providing confidence in maintaining a drug-free workplace.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing makes it a preferred choice in Mount Airy, VA. With significantly reduced chances of sample adulteration, businesses are assured of unquestionable results that are incredibly reliable.
Hair tests are nearly impossible to cheat, bolstering their appeal to employers who seek integrity in their drug testing processes. This credibility is crucial for maintaining workplace safety and adhering to legal standards.
Convenience is key with our nationwide testing centers in Mount Airy, VA. Accessible locations streamline the testing process, ensuring quick and easy access for all seeking hair follicle drug testing services.
Local centers guarantee a hassle-free experience, allowing individuals and businesses to efficiently manage their testing requirements. This ease of access is critical in maintaining regular and unobtrusive drug screening.
Our hair follicle testing process in Mount Airy, VA emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to collecting and receiving results, each step is designed to protect privacy and ensure ease of use.
The straightforward nature of our process addresses any concerns about privacy and user-friendliness. You can trust the system to handle sensitive information responsibly and deliver thorough results swiftly.
In Mount Airy, VA, our hair follicle testing service boasts affordable pricing and swift turnaround times, catering to companies of all sizes. The competitive rates ensure budgetary compliance without compromising on quality.
This cost-effective approach, paired with rapid result delivery, provides excellent value, making it an attractive option for maintaining workplace safety and adhering to drug-free policies.
In Mount Airy, VA, hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its precision and speed. This method delivers fast, accurate results that reliably reflect substance use. Compared to traditional tests, hair testing provides a deeper insight into an individual's history, enhancing decision-making capabilities for employers.
The high accuracy of hair follicle tests ensures reliable detection of various substances. With rapid processing times, this method offers results that are both timely and dependable, minimizing waiting periods and delivering peace of mind to all involved parties.
Hair follicle testing in Mount Airy, VA fosters compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By utilizing this method, employers can uphold safety standards and reduce legal risks associated with drug use.
This testing approach offers peace of mind, knowing that their drug screening practices are robust and effective. Businesses are better equipped to ensure a safe environment for their employees, minimizing potential threats to workplace safety.
