Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair, it provides an extensive timeline of substance intake. When collected near the scalp, hair samples can offer a detection period of around three months for both alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, manipulation is challenging, and shipping is hassle-free.
A collection of a 1.5-inch section, approximately 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil thickness) close to the scalp, yields a 100mg sample, the optimal amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or when the panel exceeds ten, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
In Accessioning, the sample is initially logged into the laboratory system, ensuring it was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addressing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening is a preliminary drug test to identify possible drug misuse. Though cost-effective for excluding drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result in Screening needs verification for legal admissibility. Samples that are tentatively positive through Screening must undergo a secondary validation.
For samples showing tentatively positive results during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs from hair are obtained at a significantly reduced concentration than through other techniques (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing a complex methodology.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques. Samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned prior to Confirmation as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In comparison to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers superior detection capabilities in Baden, GA.
Hair follicle testing in Baden, GA, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This advantage enables employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance use history.
Hair follicle testing in Baden, GA, significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering.
Our hair follicle testing services in Baden, GA, are backed by a network of nationwide locations.
The process of hair follicle testing in Baden, GA, is both simple and confidential.
Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Baden, GA, is a cost-effective choice.
The accuracy and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Baden, GA, are unrivaled. Rapid and precise, these tests offer valuable insights into substance use with a high degree of reliability.
Employers in Baden, GA, can achieve compliance with drug-free policies through hair follicle testing.
