Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a valuable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The long history of substance use is captured by biomarkers embedded in the growing hair strands. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a three-month period of drug and alcohol history. The collection process is straightforward, it's relatively hard to tamper with, and it is easy to transport.
A sample from the scalp of around 1.5 inches and approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) will yield 100mg, which is ideal for screening and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests over 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent body hair sample can be used. When we mention head hair, it is specific to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processes involved in a drug test result comprise four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial introduction of a sample into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result here must be validated for legal acceptability. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.
In cases of presumptive positive results during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further preparation in the Extraction process. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid testing, making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.
The confirmation of any positive screening involves techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is common, but the analysis targets the hair itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In North El Monte, CA, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over urine tests. Besides providing more accurate and reliable results, hair tests detect usage over extended periods, offering a thorough perspective on substance use history.
In North El Monte, CA, hair follicle tests shine with their extended detection window. They trace drugs for up to 90 days, furnishing employers a more complete understanding of an individual's substance tracking.
North El Monte, CA, appreciates hair follicle testing's tamper-resistant nature. The ingenuity behind this method renders it difficult to alter results, thus offering trusted and definite outcomes.
Our extensive network of testing locations bolsters convenience in North El Monte, CA. With numerous facilities nationwide, there is swift and hassle-free access to testing services.
Residents of North El Monte, CA, benefit from a simple and confidential process when ordering and undertaking hair follicle testing. Privacy is prioritized, with ease of both test-taking and result acquisition.
With affordable pricing and fast turnaround, companies in North El Monte, CA enjoy significant value. Competitive costs coupled with swift results create peace of mind for businesses, big or small.
The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests make them stand out for effective substance detection in North El Monte, CA. These tests promptly deliver reliable analysis results, ensuring that any detected substance use is both precise and dependable.
Employers in North El Monte, CA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies, it mitigates legal concerns and augments workplace safety.
