Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers, offering a long-term record of substance use. When collected from near the scalp, hair samples can detect alcohol and drug use for up to roughly 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, harder to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of about 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, equivalent body hair may be taken. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The key stages of processing a drug test result in the laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first stage where a sample is logged into a lab's system. This involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and delivered, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary check for substance abuse. Although it's a cost-effective means of ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to hold up in court. Presumptively positive samples in Screening need further confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. This phase involves removing drugs from hair at a concentration much lower than other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening a complex method.
Confirmation for any positive screens employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptive positive undergo a wash prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
When comparing hair follicle and urine drug tests in Vermont, WI, hair testing excels with superior detection accuracy. Hair tests provide reliable and accurate results, identifying substances over a longer period, making them a preferable choice over traditional urine tests.
Hair follicle testing in Vermont, WI, offers an extended detection window, tracking drug use for up to 90 days. This gives employers a thorough view of an individual’s substance history, significantly more comprehensive than other testing methods.
Hair follicle tests in Vermont, WI, are highly resistant to tampering, ensuring reliable outcomes. Unlike other tests, these tests substantially decrease the chances of sample adulteration, providing results that can be trusted without question.
Our nationwide testing centers, including those in Vermont, WI, offer convenience and accessibility. With local centers, accessing our testing services becomes simple and hassle-free, addressing your needs efficiently and effectively.
In Vermont, WI, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. The procedure for ordering, testing, and receiving results is straightforward and secure, ensuring privacy is maintained throughout the process.
In Vermont, WI, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. This provides great value for companies of all sizes, ensuring quick and reliable results that contribute to organizational confidence and efficiency.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Vermont, WI, stand out in detecting substance use efficiently. Hair tests offer remarkably high accuracy, delivering rapid results that identify drug presence with confidence.
Employers in Vermont, WI, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. Using this method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety, offering peace of mind through reliable testing practices.
