Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly viewed as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the hair strand as it grows, hair offers an extended timeline of substance use. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window for alcohol and other drugs of up to roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and easy to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG, additional panels, and those beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. Reference to head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four key stages in handling a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the initial sample processing in a lab’s workflow. This step ensures the sample is correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data input not covered by a digital chain of custody.
Screening executes an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to negate drug usage in most specimens, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Presumptive positives from Screening necessitate a secondary validation.
Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and set up for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration level than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The whole process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized according to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Hixon, WI, offers significant advantages over urine tests, including superior detection accuracy and dependability. Compared to urine tests, hair samples are more robust for detecting long-term drug use, as hair captures drug traces for up to 90 days, providing a more complete depiction of an individual’s history and ensuring better policy adherence.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Hixon, WI, allows employers to evaluate drug use over an extensive time frame of up to 90 days. This prolonged detection period offers a clearer understanding of a participant's substance use history, critical for maintaining a drug-free environment in the workplace.
Conducting hair follicle tests in Hixon, WI, drastically lessens adulteration risks, ensuring the results are reliable and valid. The inherent resistance of hair samples to tampering means hair follicle testing is a secure method for verifying drug use, giving employers a higher level of confidence in the outcomes produced.
Accredited Drug Testing boasts numerous convenient nationwide testing locations, including accessible centers in Hixon, WI. With a widespread network, individuals and businesses enjoy seamless access to testing services, facilitating straightforward, hassle-free dependency solutions for all testing needs.
Our process in Hixon, WI, ensures a simple and confidential experience for those requiring drug tests. From ordering through result acquisition, our structured approach respects privacy while guaranteeing a straightforward, stress-free procedure. Clients can rely on discretion coupled with ease of use throughout.
Accredited Drug Testing in Hixon, WI, commits to offering affordable pricing combined with rapid response times. Our competitive pricing models ensure that businesses, regardless of size, can access superior testing services. Swift result delivery enhances value, providing reassurance to all stakeholders involved.
In Hixon, WI, the precision of hair follicle drug tests offers unparalleled reliability and speed. These tests provide fast and accurate results, ensuring timely detection of substance use. The meticulous procedures used in hair follicle testing minimize errors, offering consistent, high-stakes outcomes to employers and individuals concerned with substance abuse issues.
Employers in Hixon, WI, can achieve compliance and peace of mind by choosing hair follicle testing. This method supports maintaining drug-free workplace policies while reducing legal exposure and increasing safety. By relying on hair tests, businesses reassure stakeholders of their commitment to safety and integrity.
