Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present up to an estimated 3-month detection period for substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.
A 1.5-inch piece containing about 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the prime sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional checks, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair specimen is suggested. It's advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent portion of body hair may be gathered. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair kinds (facial, axillary, and so forth).
Process Overview
The primary phases involved in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input absent from an electronic chain of custody mechanism.
Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug consumption in most cases, a positive screen needs validation to be permissible in legal contexts. Any samples tentatively positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample yield a presumptively positive outcome during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and gets ready for Extraction. Here, substances are extracted from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thereby rendering hair drug testing as the toughest technique to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis primarily targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in South Chesconessex, VA, due to enhanced accuracy and reliability. Hair tests detect drug use over extended periods, giving comprehensive insights into one's substance use history.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in South Chesconessex, VA, offers insights into drug use for up to 90 days, helping employers evaluate an individual's substance habits comprehensively.
Hair follicle testing in South Chesconessex, VA, minimizes sample tampering risk, ensuring trustworthy results. This method deters adulteration attempts, producing valid outcomes.
Numerous testing locations nationwide, including local centers in South Chesconessex, VA, ensure effortless access to services. It's stress-free and convenient for all.
In South Chesconessex, VA, the process of hair follicle testing is straightforward and private, addressing ease of use and confidentiality concerns. From ordering to receiving results, it’s seamless.
Our competitive pricing in South Chesconessex, VA, offers companies great value with quick turnaround times. This ensures affordability without compromising service quality.
Hair follicle testing is renowned in South Chesconessex, VA, for swift precision, offering superior detection compared to alternatives. This test highlights high accuracy in identifying substances used over time.
Employing hair follicle tests in South Chesconessex, VA, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities and promoting safety. It affords peace of mind for employers.
