Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair examinations are recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as the hair grows. When hair is taken near the scalp, it can reveal a detection timeframe of roughly 3 months for alcohol and narcotics. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easily transportable.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the prime amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, extensions, and/or analyses over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advocate using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in laboratory handling of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning deals with the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This step involves ensuring the proper sealing and dispatch of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening offers a preliminary swift assessment for abusive substances. Although Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use in most cases, a positive screen must be verified to hold up in legal proceedings. All samples that test positive in Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample test positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. This stage involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluids), thus making hair drug screening among the most challenging techniques to execute.
Positive Screening findings undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any potential positive samples are cleansed prior to Confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", this evaluation actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Springdale, WA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing. Firstly, hair tests provide a substantially longer detection window, capturing long-term drug use over months, unlike urine tests which only indicate recent consumption. This makes hair testing invaluable for employers eager to discern true substance habits. Furthermore, the precision of hair testing in identifying metabolite traces means higher accuracy, bolstering reliability in screening.
Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, crucial for thorough evaluations in Springdale, WA. This method can uncover drug use over a prolonged period, up to 90 days, providing a more comprehensive reflection of a subject’s substance use history. Employers benefit from this extended detection span, ensuring they capture broader patterns of behavior, a critical factor in making informed employment decisions.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle drug tests mitigates risks of sample adulteration in Springdale, WA. Given their extensive collection method, altering hair samples is virtually impossible, unlike urine tests that can be easily compromised. This ensures that results remain authentic and irrefutable, allowing organizations and legal authorities to trust findings without question, thus maintaining the integrity of the testing process.
The convenience offered by our nationwide testing centers is immense, including local access in Springdale, WA. With widespread locations, undergoing hair follicle testing becomes hassle-free, ensuring quick access to necessary services. Individuals and organizations can trust that they will have easy and efficient access to drug testing venues, both locally and across the nation, simplifying the testing process remarkably.
Our simple, confidential process in Springdale, WA, addresses privacy and ease of use for hair follicle testing. Ordering, undergoing the test, and receiving results are seamless tasks, ensuring client comfort. With confidentiality as a priority, individuals can undergo testing without concerns about privacy breaches, enhancing user experience while delivering reliable outcomes.
We emphasize affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in our services in Springdale, WA. This combination provides companies of all sizes with exceptional value, ensuring quick results without compromising on quality. Our competitive pricing structures make hair follicle testing an accessible option, ensuring cost-effectiveness alongside superior service delivery for comprehensive substance evaluations.
When it comes to obtaining fast, accurate, and reliable results, hair follicle testing in Springdale, WA stands out. These tests offer exceptional precision, detecting a wide range of substances with high accuracy. The speed of results ensures that those needing evidence of substance use, either personal or professional, receive timely feedback. With hair follicle testing, individuals are reassured by the swift and dependable nature of the outcomes.
For employers in Springdale, WA, compliance and peace of mind are guaranteed with hair follicle testing. This method not only aligns with workplace drug-free policies but also significantly minimizes legal risks. By adopting this robust testing procedure, employers can enhance workplace safety, ensure compliance, and foster a more secure work environment, ultimately promoting a productive and trustworthy workplace.
