Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use, including drugs and alcohol. It offers a long-term record by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When harvested from near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use for up to 90 days. Hair sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample consisting of a 1.5-inch segment from around 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp will yield approximately 100 mg, which is optimal for both screening and verification processes. For more comprehensive testing, such as EtG, supplemental, or beyond 10-panel tests, a specimen of 150 mg is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler's scale. If head hair is not accessible, the same quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair; body hair includes all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in the lab processing of drug test outcomes are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary incorporation of a sample into the laboratory's framework. This phase involves ensuring the sample's seal and shipping integrity, designating it with a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing supplemental data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Though Screening is an economically efficient means to rule out drugs in most samples, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to be considered valid in legal settings. All samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, substances are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair testing one of the most complex methodologies.
Confirmation for any positive screening result is achieved through techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. Each step from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test in fact examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Koontzville, WA is worth noting. Hair testing demonstrates superior detection accuracy and reliability compared to traditional urine tests.
Extended Detection Window in Koontzville, WA is a major advantage of hair follicle testing. It can detect drug use over a much longer period, up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Koontzville, WA offered by hair follicle tests significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Koontzville, WA make hair follicle testing accessible.
Simple, Confidential Process in Koontzville, WA highlights the ease of using hair follicle testing.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Koontzville, WA emphasize value and efficiency.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Koontzville, WA are ensured with hair follicle testing. This method provides high accuracy in detecting substance use, offering quick and definitive answers.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Koontzville, WA is achievable through hair follicle testing.