Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The utilization of hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive historical account of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the developing hair strand's fibers. A proximity-based sample taken near the scalp can deliver an approximate 3-month timeframe for the detection of alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.
Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment from around 200 hair strands, approximately matching a #2 pencil's thickness, near the scalp can yield a 100mg sample, ideal for both initial tests and subsequent confirmations. For tests such as EtG, add-ons, or above 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest weighing this sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" strictly refers to scalp hair, while "Body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four essential phases in processing a drug test result in a laboratory setting include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample is first processed into the laboratory's system. This step confirms that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other necessary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails an initial quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening provides a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage for most samples, but any positive screen must be verified to stand in court. Samples flagged as presumptively positive in Screening undergo a secondary confirmation.
Presumptively positive samples from the Screening phase necessitate additional hair extraction from the initial specimen to prepare for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at far lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining the complexities of hair drug screening.
Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed prior to Confirmation if needed. The overall laboratory procedure, from Accessioning through Confirmation, undergoes review under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the testing itself analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
The advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests in Gualala, CA, are clear. While traditional urine tests offer shorter detection windows, hair tests provide superior accuracy and reveal a longer history of substance use, ensuring more reliable insights.
The extended detection window of up to 90 days for hair follicle tests in Gualala, CA, ensures that employers have a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history, which is invaluable in maintaining workplace integrity.
Hair follicle tests in Gualala, CA, offer a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces sample adulteration. This makes them a reliable choice, providing results that can be trusted for their authenticity.
Our extensive network of testing locations, both nationwide and in Gualala, CA, ensures that accessing drug testing services is convenient, quick, and stress-free for all.
In Gualala, CA, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving results, easing concerns over privacy and ensuring a hassle-free experience.
With competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Gualala, CA, provide excellent value and peace of mind for businesses of every size.
In Gualala, CA, hair follicle drug tests are prized for their precision and rapid results. Offering swift, accurate detection of substance use, these tests set the benchmark in reliability and efficiency for drug screening needs.
For employers in Gualala, CA, harnessing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal complications and enhances workplace safety, offering peace of mind.
