Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now seen as a formidable method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended timeline of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fiber of the growing strand. When extracted near the scalp, hair may yield up to nearly a 3-month insight into drug and alcohol use. It is straightforward to procure, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be obtained. In our context, head hair denotes only scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other hair categories (including facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
There are four principal stages involved in processing a drug test result in the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the process of initially registering a sample into the laboratory’s system. It involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening entails a preliminary, rapid assessment for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical way to clear most samples of drug use, any positive results must be confirmed to be legally valid. Samples that show preliminary positive results in Screening require an additional confirmation phase.
In instances where a Screening suggests a potential positive outcome, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are retrieved from the hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods are employed for the Confirmation of any positive Screening result. All samples with presumed positive results are cleansed prior to Confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation standard of ISO/IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although called "hair follicle tests", the actual test analyses the hair strand and not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing stands out in Woodway, WA, for its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent drug use, hair tests provide a longer timeframe of substance history, offering a broader understanding of drug habits and ensuring a foolproof evaluation for employers.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Woodway, WA, allows for drug monitoring up to 90 days. This broad timeframe, unavailable in urine testing, offers employers detailed insights into an individual's drug history. It ensures that only candidates who maintain a substance-free lifestyle are selected.
Hair follicle tests in Woodway, WA, are tamper-resistant, ensuring an unadulterated sample. These tests eradicate the potential for sample manipulation, providing employers with dependable results. The process is meticulously observed, virtually eliminating the chance for deceit or alteration, unlike other drug testing methods.
With nationwide and local testing centers in Woodway, WA, access to hair follicle testing is straightforward and efficient. Accredited Drug Testing ensures you're never far from a center, making the process hassle-free by providing numerous convenient locations tailored to your needs.
The process in Woodway, WA, is simple and confidential, right from ordering to testing and receiving results. Concerns about privacy are alleviated, ensuring individuals can complete their tests with ease and confidence, knowing their information remains secure and discreet.
Competitive pricing models and rapid turnaround times in Woodway, WA, ensure that hair follicle testing remains affordable. This balance of cost and efficiency affords businesses of any size excellent value, allowing them to proceed with financial assurance and prompt results.
In Woodway, WA, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their speed and precision, capturing drug use reliably. The comprehensive nature of these tests means results are fast, ensuring timely decisions for businesses. Employers can trust the high accuracy, which significantly minimizes false positives or negatives, giving them confidence in the hiring process.
For businesses in Woodway, WA, utilizing hair follicle tests solidly reinforces compliance with drug-free workplace guidelines. It significantly lessens legal threats and fosters a safe working environment. Employers gain peace of mind, knowing they meet standardized policies while maintaining workplace integrity.
