Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a long-term record by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. By collecting samples near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month detection period for substances. It's easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is preferred. We advise measuring it with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in processing a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails initially integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although it serves as a cost-effective method to dismiss drug use in most samples, positive screens must be confirmed for courtroom admissibility. Any samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is indicated positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Toms Brook, VA, hair follicle tests offer clear advantages over standard urine tests. Superior detection periods reveal drug use within the past 90 days, compared to a much shorter window for urine samples.
In Toms Brook, VA, extended detection windows set hair follicle testing apart. Hair samples reveal drug usage up to 90 days back, versus a few days with traditional tests. This allows employers to review patterns over time instead of isolated incidents. Such comprehensive insights aid in making well-informed hiring or retention decisions, supporting a drug-free workplace ethos.
Hair tests provide clarity and security.
Concerns of tampering are minimized with hair follicle tests in Toms Brook, VA.
This method offers a tamper-resistant solution, presenting clear and definitive results.
Convenience is at the core of our services in Toms Brook, VA. Nationwide testing centers, coupled with local accessibility, provide easy and hassle-free options for all types of testing needs.
Making the testing process simple and confidential in Toms Brook, VA is our priority. From test ordering to results delivery, each step is handled with care to maintain privacy.
Toms Brook, VA enjoys affordable pricing and fast services for hair drug testing. Competitive pricing ensures excellent value while maintaining high standards.
Toms Brook, VA benefits from the precision and speed of Hair Follicle Drug Testing. Accurate detection capabilities ensure reliable assessment of substance use. Nationwide, this method is revered for its excellence. Fast turnaround times make it a top choice for thorough and prompt testing.
Hair follicle tests stand out in terms of detection efficiency, surpassing other traditional methods with ease.
Hair follicle testing in Toms Brook, VA provides employers the peace of mind that policies on drug-free workplaces are adhered to. By utilizing this reliable method, firms ensure compliance with legal regulations and reduce potential risks.
