Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When sampled near the head, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of around 200 strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests with more than 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It is recommended to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary steps in processing a drug test in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial preparation of a sample in the lab's system. This process confirms the sample is intact and correctly transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial, quick evaluation for drug use. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal situations. Any samples testing presumptive positive in Screening mandate further confirmation.
If a sample suggests a positive result in Screening, more hair from the original sample is prepared for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned as required before confirmation. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Choosing hair follicle testing over urine has notable advantages in Yogaville, VA. The enhanced detection accuracy makes it a superior option for identifying substance use.
In Yogaville, VA, hair follicle testing offers an unparalleled extended detection window of up to 90 days. This period allows employers a more detailed insight into an individual's past substance use.
Yogaville, VA, benefits from hair follicle testing's tamper-resistant nature, ensuring each sample's integrity remains intact. The consistency of results instills confidence.
Yogaville, VA residents enjoy convenient access to testing locations with Accredited Drug Testing's broad network.
The hair follicle testing process in Yogaville, VA, emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality, ensuring privacy and ease at every step.
Yogaville, VA, thrives with affordable pricing and swift turnaround times in hair follicle testing, providing excellent value for businesses.
Hair follicle testing in Yogaville, VA, promises rapid and precise outcomes, making it a reliable choice for those in need of accurate substance use detection.
Employers in Yogaville, VA, can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Ensuring workplace safety and policy adherence becomes straightforward.
