Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morgantown, WV

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of growing hair strands trap biomarkers, offering a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage. When gathered near the scalp, hair can provide a detection window of up to 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair—the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, additional substances, or more than 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other hair categories (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for determining a drug test outcome consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab's infrastructure. This step ensures that the sample's seal and shipment are intact, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adds any necessary data not present in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an expedited preliminary check for substances of abuse. While Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

If Sampling shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or saliva), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screen results is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to necessary confirmations. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is vetted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Challenge to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal drug use trends over time, opposed to solely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Morgantown, WV, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. It excels in detecting drug use with greater accuracy and reliability, making it the preferred choice for many organizations.

Unlike urine tests, hair testing provides a longer detection period, ensuring a more comprehensive analysis of an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Morgantown, WV offers employers a detailed account of an individual's substance use history.

This comprehensive insight into past drug use is invaluable for making informed hiring and retention decisions, helping to maintain a safe and compliant work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Morgantown, WV, hair follicle tests provide a tamper-resistant method of drug testing. The likelihood of sample adulteration is significantly minimized, ensuring trustworthy results.

Employers and professionals can rely on the integrity of hair testing, making it an ideal choice for accurate drug testing needs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide and local testing centers in Morgantown, WV is unmatched. Accessing drug testing services is quick, simple, and stress-free.

Our widespread network ensures that individuals and organizations have easy access to reliable testing facilities whenever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our drug testing process in Morgantown, WV is both simple and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are streamlined steps ensuring user privacy and ease of use.

Individuals can be confident that their personal information remains secure throughout the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Morgantown, WV, our drug testing services offer competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times. This provides excellent value to companies of any size.

The combination of affordability and prompt results ensures businesses can stay informed and proactive in maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle testing in Morgantown, WV are unparalleled. With the ability to identify substance use with high accuracy, these tests provide fast and dependable results.

Employers and individuals benefit from the rapid turnaround and reliable outcomes, ensuring that any drug use is detected effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Morgantown, WV can achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing. This method helps reduce legal risks and bolster workplace safety.

By choosing hair testing, organizations can ensure peace of mind, knowing they are taking proactive measures to promote a secure working environment.

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