Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Evaluating drug and alcohol consumption using hair testing is regarded as a significant method. Hair captures a long-term profile of alcohol and drug intake by locking biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. Hair samples gathered near the scalp offer a detection capability for alcohol and drugs lasting up to roughly 3 months. Collecting hair is straightforward, tampering is relatively tough, and it is easy to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. All other forms of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.) are classified as body hair.
Procedure Summary
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning represents the initial processing stage within the laboratory system. It entails confirming the integrity and proper shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary analysis to identify drug abuse. While cost-effective in excluding drug use from most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumptively positive in Screening require additional confirmation.
Should a sample test positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is particularly challenging to conduct.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive receive a wash before confirmation if necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the standards of ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Benefits of Hair Drug Testing:
Challenges:
Note: Though commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the analysis involves the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why does hair follicle testing excel over urine testing in Comfort, WV? Key advantages include a significantly longer detection period and superior accuracy. Hair tests can reveal a 90-day history of drug use, providing a broader assessment picture. Reliable and harder to tamper compared to urine tests, hair analyses offer a dependable choice for organizations committed to comprehensive screening.
Located in Comfort, WV, hair follicle testing's principal advantage is its extended detection window. With the ability to identify drug use over an extensive timespan of up to 90 days, these tests empower employers with thorough insight into employee or applicant substance histories. This prolonged window allows for a more complete understanding, setting benchmarks for evaluating long-term drug abstinence.
In Comfort, WV, hair follicle testing stands out as a tamper-resistant screening technique. By significantly reducing the possibility for sample adulteration, these tests provide results that are both robust and undisputable. Their resistance to manipulation enhances their reliability, ensuring decisions made based on the results are sound and justified.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide locations, including Comfort, WV, ensuring simple access to testing services. With a vast network of centers, scheduling and conducting tests is hassle-free and quick, enabling both employers and individuals to meet their testing needs swiftly and efficiently.
In Comfort, WV, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the entire procedure is designed to maintain privacy while ensuring ease of use. This confidentiality addresses any concerns about personal privacy, making the overall experience stress-free for individuals being tested.
Competitive affordable pricing in Comfort, WV, combined with rapid turnaround times, make hair follicle testing an excellent value proposition for businesses of every size. This balance of cost-effectiveness and speed mitigates company expenses while ensuring timely, reliable results for managing workplace substance policies.
In Comfort, WV, hair follicle drug tests provide unparalleled precision and efficiency in determining substance usage. These tests are incredibly accurate, ensuring reliable test outcomes. With rapid processing, recipients receive quick confirmations, making it a preferred choice for those needing fast results. The accuracy of these assessments ensures confidence among employers and individuals alike.
Employers in Comfort, WV, gain peace of mind knowing that hair follicle testing aligns precisely with drug-free workplace policies. By utilizing these tests, organizations ensure compliance with legal standards, significantly reducing liabilities and enhancing workplace safety, creating a safer and more secure environment for all employees.
