Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. By collecting hair close to the scalp, a detection window of roughly 3 months for various substances can be achieved. Hair is easy to collect, hard to alter, and convenient to send.
A sample of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil’s thickness), taken nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, the optimal amount for testing. For EtG, additional components, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. The specimen should be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t accessible, an equal quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other forms (such as facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four essential steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary examination for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive screen needs confirmation to be legally admissible. Presumptively positive samples during Screening require additional confirmation.
If Screening yields a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug screening is challenging to execute.
Confirmed positive screenings undergo GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS for final analysis. All presumptive positive specimens undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In La Habra Heights, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in several ways:
Hair testing offers a more thorough analysis, demonstrating clear advantages over traditional methods.
Hair follicle testing stands out for its extensive detection window, covering up to 90 days:
Employers in La Habra Heights gain a complete picture of an applicant's substance use history.
In La Habra Heights, the hair follicle method is remarkably tamper-resistant:
Employers benefit from tests that uphold integrity through stringent collection processes.
Convenience of nationwide testing centers is available in La Habra Heights:
Our wide network guarantees testing is never a burden for individuals or employers.
The process of hair follicle drug testing is known for being simple and confidential in La Habra Heights:
Test with confidence, knowing the process respects all privacy and convenience needs.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in La Habra Heights:
Superior value and reassurance throughout the testing experience.
La Habra Heights benefits from the fast and reliable precision of hair follicle drug testing.
Hair follicle drug tests ensure dependable results, efficiently revealing any substance misuse.
Hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers in La Habra Heights:
Employers can confidently manage a safe and compliant work environment.
