Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of substance use by preserving biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair provides roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent in size to a #2 pencil) next to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the prime sample size for screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is recommended. We advise measuring the specimen on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial processing phase where a sample enters a lab's system, which verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening effectively rules out drug use in most samples at a low cost, a positive result needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples showing presumptive positives in Screening require secondary confirmation.
If a sample appears presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are washed as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation falls under review by the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and holds accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the process actually examines the hair strand itself, not the scalp's underlying follicle
In Stanleytown, VA, hair follicle drug testing stands out when compared to traditional urine tests. Hair tests offer superior accuracy and reliability.
They provide a longer detection window, revealing substance use history up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a brief snapshot.
With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Stanleytown, VA, offer a comprehensive overview of substance history.
This long-lasting visibility allows employers to make informed decisions regarding applicants or employees.
Hair follicle tests in Stanleytown, VA, minimize the risk of tampering, providing indisputable results.
The robustness of hair samples ensures accuracy and reliability in test results, deterring attempts at sample adulteration.
Nationwide and local testing centers, including Stanleytown, VA, make accessing hair follicle testing convenient and hassle-free.
Our expansive network ensures immediate services and efficient testing processes.
The process for hair follicle testing in Stanleytown, VA, is simple and confidential, respecting users' privacy.
From ordering tests to receiving results, the process is designed to be easy, ensuring user confidence and convenience.
Accredited Drug Testing in Stanleytown, VA, provides competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing.
We ensure affordability without compromising on test quality, offering businesses excellent value.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Stanleytown, VA, are unmatched. Their high accuracy makes them ideal for detecting long-term substance use.
The results provide a trustworthy account of drug consumption due to advanced testing technology, ensuring reliability.
Employers in Stanleytown, VA, find peace of mind and compliance with workplace drug policies through hair follicle testing.
This method significantly reduces legal risks while enhancing safety in the work environment by accurately identifying drug use.
