Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly acknowledged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by seizing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch piece of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" pertains only to scalp hair, while "body hair" refers to other types (such as facial or axillary).
Process Overview
The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary check for abusive drugs. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need additional confirmation.
If a specimen is presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique.
Confirmation of any positive result from the Screening phase is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation as required. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair Follicle Testing vs. Urine Testing in Millstone, WV: Hair testing offers advantages over the traditional urine tests, especially regarding detection accuracy. Benefits include:
Hair follicle testing in Millstone, WV, excels with its extended detection window. With a capacity to detect drug use up to 90 days back, it offers a comprehensive view of an individual’s drug history, crucial for employers wanting a holistic understanding of their employees' or applicants' substance use.
Millstone, WV, benefits from hair follicle testing’s tamper-resistant nature. The method reduces the possibility of adulteration, ensuring unquestionable and trustworthy results, making it a preferred choice for entities requiring reliable drug testing.
Convenience is key in Millstone, WV, with our nationwide and local testing centers. Features include:
In Millstone, WV, the drug testing process remains simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are designed to be straightforward, catering to privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use for all stakeholders involved.
Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times in Millstone, WV, our services provide exceptional value for companies of all sizes. Advantages include:
In Millstone, WV, hair follicle drug tests provide fast and accurate results, unmatched by other methods. Their precision in detecting substance use makes them a preferred choice. Key Benefits:
Employers in Millstone, WV, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Utilizing this approach assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizes legal risks, and fosters a safer work environment, enhancing overall workplace assurance.
