Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a historical record for alcohol and drug presence by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drug substances. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to hair from the scalp. "Body hair" includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory analysis of a drug test result consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step includes confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody setup.
Screening involves conducting an initial rapid test for substance abuse. Though Screening is a budget-friendly approach to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive result must be verified to be usable in legal settings. Samples that test positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. In this procedure, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.
Positive screening outcomes require Confirmation through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While sometimes called "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Apple River, WI, excels over traditional urine tests due to its superior accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer an extended detection window, uncovering substance use months after intake, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
For employers in Apple River, WI, hair follicle testing is advantageous as it reveals substance use for an extended period, up to 90 days. This extensive detection window provides a thorough insight into an individual's drug history, aiding in making informed employment decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Apple River, WI, significantly reduces tampering risks, resulting in trustworthy and indisputable outcomes. Its design inherently makes it difficult for individuals to alter the results, guaranteeing the integrity of the testing process.
Convenience is key with our wide network of testing centers in Apple River, WI, and Nationwide, ensuring access to testing services that are quick, straightforward, and trouble-free.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Apple River, WI, is straightforward and confidential, minimizing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use for the individuals involved.
In Apple River, WI, our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, coupled with rapid result turnaround times, provides excellent value and reassurance for businesses of all sizes.
In Apple River, WI, hair follicle drug analysis offers quick, accurate results, providing high reliability in detecting substance involvement. This method ensures swiftness and precision in evaluating drug use, making it a preferred testing approach for employers.
By implementing hair follicle testing, employers in Apple River, WI, are ensured compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal liabilities and fostering a safe working environment.
