Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extended timeline for detecting alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair's fiber. When samples are taken near the scalp, they can offer a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively difficult to alter, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, extra components, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair cannot be sampled, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair imply scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, and similar).
Process Overview
The four pivotal steps in the lab handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the primary handling of a sample into a lab’s workflow. This process verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry absent from a digital chain of custody system.
Screening includes an initial brief evaluation for drug substances. Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage for most samples, though a positive result must be validated to be legal in court situations. Samples that screen presumptively positive necessitate further confirmation.
If a sample screens as presumptively positive, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and processed for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair testing a challenging procedure to perform.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often known as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp.
Why Choose Hair Follicle Over Urine Tests: In Timberlake, VA, hair follicle testing triumphs for its superior detection reliability.
Extended Detection Period: Hair follicle testing provides a comprehensive analysis of up to 90 days of substance use history. This gives employers in Timberlake, VA a clearer view of an individual's lifestyle.
Tamper-Resistant Testing: By utilizing hair samples, the potential for tampering is greatly reduced, offering concrete reliability.
Convenient Testing Centers: Our extensive network of testing locations nationwide simplifies access to drug assessments. Timberlake, VA benefits from quick and easy testing solutions.
Simple and Confidential: Our testing process is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, ensuring privacy throughout. In Timberlake, VA, order, take, and receive your results without hassle.
Affordable and Fast Turnaround: Our competitive pricing structure in Timberlake, VA ensures excellent value alongside quick result delivery.
Timberlake, VA: The precision and efficiency of hair follicle testing are unrivaled. This method offers fast screenings with high accuracy for substance detection.
Ensuring Compliance and Employer Peace of Mind: Hair testing aligns with drug-free policies, lessening legal risks and enhancing safety in the workplace.
