Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as a highly effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. It offers a comprehensive timeline of drug and alcohol intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. By collecting hair near the scalp, it is possible to achieve a detection period spanning approximately 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair sample collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.
Obtaining a hair sample that measures 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil), yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for thorough assessment and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to use 150mg of hair. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be sourced. Referring to head hair implies scalp hair only, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing to enter the laboratory’s system, including verification of proper sealing and shipment, allocation of a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of any missing data beyond what the electronic chain of custody provides.
Screening entails a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach for ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive screenings must be substantiated for legal acceptance. Samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening require further confirmation.
For any sample deemed presumptively positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), underscoring that hair drug testing is the most challenging methodology.
Confirmation of a positive screening is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples labeled as presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation. Throughout the entire laboratory process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, reviews are conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In St. Lawrence, WI, hair follicle testing triumphs over urine tests for drug detection. One of their biggest advantages is the extended detection period which spans up to 90 days.
The reliability of hair tests renders them preferable where accuracy is paramount, effectively identifying substance use histories and preventing false negatives often seen with urine samples.
With a detection period of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in St. Lawrence, WI, provides an expanded view of drug usage history, vital for employers assessing potential hires or current employees.
This long-term insight aids in evaluating sustained substance use over time, critical in workplace safety and policy compliance.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in St. Lawrence, WI, underscores their reliability, drastically reducing the chances of adulteration unlike other testing methods.
This makes them an optimal solution for those needing incontrovertible results, ensuring peace of mind for organizations and individuals alike.
With nationwide and local locations, getting a testing appointment in St. Lawrence, WI, is convenient, facilitating quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services.
Accredited Drug Testing ensures availability across multiple locales, ensuring community-wide accessibility and ease for our clients.
In St. Lawrence, WI, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Our procedures prioritize privacy while streamlining the ordering, testing, and result receiving processes.
This ensures participants feel secure and comforted by the understanding that confidentiality and ease of use are our priorities.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in St. Lawrence, WI, we ensure companies experience great value in their testing without breaking the bank.
Timely results coupled with competitive costs make ours a preferred solution for businesses of any scale.
Hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results, becoming invaluable for discerning substance use in St. Lawrence, WI. Their high precision is unparalleled compared to other methods.
These tests are renowned for their speed and accuracy, ensuring rapid turnaround times without compromising on consistency and reliability.
Employers in St. Lawrence, WI, find assurance in using hair follicle testing to remain compliant with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal liabilities and enhancing security.
Such testing helps maintain a safe, productive environment and reassure companies about their adherence to regulations.
