Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakewood, WA

What it is, How it works

Seeing hair testing as a robust method for detecting drugs and alcohol is now commonplace. Hair can retain a history of alcohol and drugs due to biomarkers being trapped within its fibrous structure. If hair is taken near the scalp, it can reveal a detection history of up to approximately 90 days for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resisting alteration, and easily mailed.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) from nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the precise sample weight needed for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding ten-panel, a specimen weighing 150mg is ideal. Using a jeweler’s scale, it’s advised to weigh the specimen. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair is an option. When discussing head hair, we solely mean scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types of hair (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test result in a lab comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the first phase of a specimen's integration into a lab’s protocol, involving the verification of proper sealing and dispatch of the sample, the allocation of a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of any supplemental data entry not furnished by an electronic custody chain.

The screening offers a preliminary rapid test for substance abuse. Although Screening is designed as an economical means to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive Screening requires verification to be legally defensible. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need a follow-up Confirmation.

When a sample registers a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is drawn from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. Here, drugs are separated from hair at a much lesser concentration than with other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening quite challenging to perform.

Positive Screening findings are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumption-positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation. The whole lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair tests identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a briefer detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair test is remarkably challenging, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical information: It can illustrate a history of drug use throughout an extended timeline, and not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: The presence of drugs in hair is recognizable after roughly 5-7 days.
• Cost: Typically, hair drug tests incur more expense than alternative testing methods.
• Results variability: Factors including hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", the assessment is performed on the hair strands rather than the follicles below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Lakewood, WA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests. The superior detection accuracy and reliability of hair testing provide clearer insights into substance use, making it the better choice.

Extended Detection Window

One of the key advantages of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window in Lakewood, WA. Unlike other methods, it can detect drug use up to 90 days prior, offering employers a thorough view of a candidate's or employee's past.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant testing method of hair follicle tests in Lakewood, WA, drastically reduces the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring reliable and indisputable results that can be trusted implicitly.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local sites in Lakewood, WA, accessing testing services is quick and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure testing is accessible wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Lakewood, WA for ordering and conducting hair follicle tests is simple and confidential. From start to finish, confidentiality is prioritized, addressing privacy concerns and streamlining use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Lakewood, WA, our hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround. These competitive rates provide value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test provides fast, accurate, and reliable results in Lakewood, WA. Known for its precision and speed, this test ensures high accuracy in identifying substance use, giving employers and individuals confidence in the findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lakewood, WA, hair follicle testing promises compliance and peace of mind. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, businesses minimize legal risks while fostering a safer work environment.

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