Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of hair as it grows, it offers a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use. If cut close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window for up to around 3 months for drugs and alcohol. Collecting hair is easy, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the prime sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG testing, additional assays, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen is advisable. In cases where scalp hair is absent, an equivalent volume of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we strictly mean scalp hair. Body hair includes other types such as facial, axillary, etc.
Process Overview
There are four key steps in processing drug test outcomes in a laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This comprises confirming the sample’s proper sealing and transportation, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening presents a budget-friendly strategy to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptance. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
Should a sample screen positive presumptively, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than via other methodologies (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to the required confirmation. The entire laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation for both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," the focus is on analyzing the hair strand, not the sub-scalp follicle
Hair follicle testing in Lemont, IL, offers notable advantages over traditional urine testing. Hair tests excel in detection accuracy and provide clarity in substance use with a longer detection window. This method ensures precise results, proving invaluable for employers and authorities seeking reliable data.
Unlike urine tests, which detect recent use, hair follicle tests provide comprehensive insight into chronic use. By examining hair strands, it ensures effective monitoring over time, reducing the risk of false negatives typically associated with urine tests.
One of the major benefits of hair follicle testing in Lemont, IL, is its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This allows employers to gather significant insight into an individual's past substance use, rather than the limited timeframe of urine testing.
Understanding long-term drug use patterns is critical for maintaining a safe workplace. With hair testing, employers receive a comprehensive evaluation of an employee's substance habits, allowing for more informed decisions regarding hiring and retention.
Hair follicle testing in Lemont, IL, effectively eliminates the possibility of tampering, providing reliable results that are hard to manipulate. Unlike urine samples, which can be diluted or adulterated, hair samples maintain integrity, offering indisputable test outcomes.
This method ensures that results are trustworthy, reducing concerns of fraudulent testing attempts. With less room for sample contamination, organizations can confidently rely on hair testing for accurate drug use assessment.
Accessibility to drug testing services is easy with numerous locations available nationwide and locally in Lemont, IL. Our centers provide quick and hassle-free access, ensuring convenience for all individuals seeking testing services.
Clients benefit from the proximity and availability of our testing facilities, helping streamline the process. This broad network assists in meeting testing needs promptly without any geographical limitations, enhancing service efficiency.
In Lemont, IL, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and private. From ordering to completion, clients experience a simple and confidential procedure, addressing privacy concerns essential in drug testing.
With easy-to-follow steps, individuals can rest assured of their confidentiality being respected while receiving accurate and prompt results, promoting trust in our services for both individual and organizational purposes.
Affordable pricing and quick turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Lemont, IL, a valuable choice for businesses of all sizes. Competitive rates coupled with fast results provide significant benefits and peace of mind.
By offering excellent value, companies can remain within budget while still obtaining reliable and timely assessments. This cost-effectiveness ensures that maintaining a drug-free workplace is achievable for all organizations.
The efficiency of hair follicle testing in Lemont, IL, is unmatched. This method delivers fast, precise, and reliable results, significantly boosting confidence in test outcomes. Employers and other stakeholders can trust that the results reflect comprehensive substance use history.
Hair testing speeds up the detection process, providing results that are not only rapid but highly accurate, pinpointing substance presence with minimal error. This precision facilitates informed decisions swiftly, especially important in professional environments.
Employers in Lemont, IL, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Such testing minimizes legal risks and enhances safety by effectively monitoring substance use among employees.
Adopting this method signifies a commitment to maintaining a safe and productive work environment. Employers can feel secure knowing their policies are supported by a reliable testing process, leading to a more harmonious workplace.
