Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged history of substances by embedding biomarkers within its growing fibers. When gathered from near the scalp, a hair sample can reveal usage of alcohol and other substances over a period of up to roughly three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment with about 200 hair strands (roughly pencil width) nearest to the scalp equates to 100mg – the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg. The use of a jeweler's scale is recommended for measuring the sample. In instances where scalp hair is missing, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. The term "head hair" specifically pertains to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for determining drug test results consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary processing phase where a sample is integrated into a lab’s system. This stage ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and delivered, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry, unless already provided through an electronic custody chain.
Screening serves as an initial assessment for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive result requires a Confirmation to be legally acceptable. Any specimens testing presumptive positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.
When a specimen is tagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), accounting for hair screening being a challenging technique.
Confirmation of any positive Screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples flagged as presumptive positive are cleansed before Confirmation as necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually assesses the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Palmer, WA: Hair drug tests are often deemed superior over traditional urine tests because they offer enhanced detection accuracy. With their ability to uncover substance use over longer periods, these tests are deemed highly reliable.
Extended Detection Window in Palmer, WA: Hair follicle testing can reveal drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days, providing employers with a deeper insight into an individual's substance history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Palmer, WA: Hair follicle tests significantly mitigate the risk of sample tampering, assuring that results remain reliable and untainted.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Palmer, WA: Our wide-reaching network of testing centers ensures that drug testing remains swift, convenient, and stress-free across the country.
Simple, Confidential Process in Palmer, WA: Our hair follicle testing process is uncomplicated and ensures privacy when ordering, undergoing, and receiving results, maintaining user confidentiality at every step.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Palmer, WA: With competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services deliver exceptional value, accommodating organizations of all sizes.
In Palmer, WA, the precision of hair follicle testing is unmatched. Within a short span, the accuracy in identifying substance use is profoundly high, offering swift and reliable outcomes that businesses can trust.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Palmer, WA: Implementing hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies, decreasing legal liabilities and bolstering workplace safety.
