Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a potent means for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the growing hair's strands. When collected near the scalp, hair offers an approximate 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimum sample size for screening and validation. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equal amount of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair refers to any other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary stage where a sample is incorporated into a laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry not given by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening performs a quick preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug usage in most cases, positive screens need confirmation to be court-admissible. All samples testing presumptively positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.
Should a sample appear presumably positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are detached from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirming any positive screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample is cleaned before confirmation, as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Hueytown, AL, surpasses urine tests through extended detection periods and greater accuracy. While urine tests might identify drugs used in recent days, hair analysis presents up to 90 days of history. This breadth ensures a more comprehensive understanding of substance use.
The high accuracy of hair follicle testing also minimizes false negatives, a limitation often faced with urine testing. By mitigating these risks, hair testing provides dependable and trustworthy results, proving advantageous for stringent policies.
Offering up to a 90-day detection window, hair follicle testing in Hueytown, AL, uncovers patterns of prolonged substance use. This extensive overview is invaluable for employers, providing insights into an individual's potential habits beyond the more limited frame offered by urine tests.
Employers can evaluate applicants or employees more comprehensively, understanding their past substance history. Every strand of hair becomes a timeline, indicating any drug use, thus supporting better-informed hiring or retention decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Hueytown, AL, dramatically reduces adulteration risks, making it a tamper-resistant choice. Unlike urine samples, where adulteration is more plausible, hair samples provide consistent and reliable data that remains unaffected by recent consumption of detox products or adulterants.
With hair tests, the integrity of samples is inherently protected. This assurance contributes to the reliability and accuracy of results, delivering peace of mind to employers and other stakeholders invested in truly reliable drug testing methods.
With comprehensive nationwide and local facilities, accessing hair follicle drug testing services in Hueytown, AL is straightforward and convenient. Our extensive network ensures that professional testing is within reach for any need or location.
These convenient testing locations provide efficiency and accessibility, allowing individuals and employers to schedule and complete tests effortlessly. This ease strengthens the ability to manage and facilitate effective testing programs.
The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle testing results in Hueytown, AL is straightforward and confidential. Our commitment to privacy ensures that each individual’s information and results are handled with absolute discretion.
We simplify testing by guaranteeing a clear, uncomplicated procedure. From initiating a test to receiving detailed results, each step is designed to respect privacy and reduce complexity, supporting users at every stage of the process.
In Hueytown, AL, Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing for hair follicle tests. These competitive rates assure all-sized businesses can maintain robust drug-free protocols without financial strain.
Coupled with rapid turnaround times, businesses can implement effective testing solutions without delay. Value-driven services mean not sacrificing speed for affordability, embodying a commitment to quality and efficiency.
In Hueytown, AL, hair follicle drug tests stand out with their speed and precision. These tests deliver fast, accurate results, ensuring that substance use traces are accurately identified. The reliability of hair tests boosts confidence, as they detect substances with high precision.
The advanced technology utilized in hair follicle testing facilitates quick processing times. This means that individuals and employers in Hueytown, AL can count on getting results without unnecessary delays, supporting informed decision-making.
Hair follicle testing in Hueytown, AL, aids employers in meeting their commitment to drug-free workplaces. Compliance with workplace policies ensures zero-tolerance for drug use, safeguarding organizational reputation while minimizing legal liabilities.
Implementing hair testing supports diligent monitoring, securing peace of mind. It aligns with broader safety challenges, diminishing risks, and promoting a culture of wellness, where every stakeholder benefits from the consistent upkeep of these standards.
