Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands can trap biomarkers over time, providing a comprehensive record of drug usage. When collected from near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol presence for about three months. The collection process is straightforward, the risk of sample tampering is lower, and transportation is convenient.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in width to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for drug screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or when testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is not available, similar quantities of body hair are acceptable. References to head hair imply scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
Drug test results are processed through four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning marks the integration of a sample into the lab system. This process verifies proper sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a rapid check for drug presence. While Screening is an economical method for eliminating drug usage in most cases, a positive screening result must be confirmed to be legally valid. All samples with a presumptive positive require further confirmation.
Should a sample show a preliminary positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. At this point, drugs are separated out from hair at a lower concentration than seen with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.
Any positive screening outcomes are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positive undergo washing before confirmation as required. From start through to Confirmation, the lab procedure is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is also accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Tanglewilde, WA, is a superior choice over urine testing. It excels in detecting drug use with impressive accuracy and reliability, offering a broader detection window. Hair testing is regarded as less intrusive and is less likely to be tampered with compared to traditional urine tests.
Providing a comprehensive view over a span of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Tanglewilde, WA, offers an extended detection window. This capability allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history, enhancing their decision-making process.
Hair follicle tests in Tanglewilde, WA, significantly mitigate the risk of sample adulteration. This method ensures tamper-resistant testing, delivering reliable and unquestionable results. Such integrity in testing is crucial for maintaining stringent compliance standards.
With numerous nationwide testing centers, Tanglewilde, WA, benefits from the convenience of easily accessible locations. Our centers ensure that testing services are rapid, straightforward, and hassle-free, meeting the needs of individuals and businesses alike.
In Tanglewilde, WA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. The privacy of individuals is respected throughout the ordering, sampling, and result-receiving stages, ensuring a stress-free experience.
Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, our hair testing in Tanglewilde, WA, provides great value for companies, regardless of size. Fast results combined with economical options ensure peace of mind without stretching budgets.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Tanglewilde, WA, set them apart. These tests are fast and reliable, offering high accuracy for substance detection. With rapid processing times, they provide employers and institutions the dependable results needed to maintain a safe environment.
Employers in Tanglewilde, WA, can find peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, hair testing reduces legal risks and elevates workplace safety, creating a more secure and productive environment.
