Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for detecting the consumption of drugs and alcohol. The fibers of growing hair strands retain biomarkers, offering an extended historical view of substance use. When hair is harvested near the scalp, it provides a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to ship.
A 1.5-inch length comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp accumulates 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's recommended to gauge the sample's weight with a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a matching amount of body hair can be used. Reference to head hair pertains strictly to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
Processing a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the preliminary entry of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This stage ensures the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any essential data input not documented by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening executes an initial, expeditious assessment for controlled substance use. While screening provides a cost-efficient means of negating drug use in a large portion of samples, a positive result needs confirmation for legal validity. Any screening-indicated positive samples necessitate secondary verification.
Should a sample test positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are drawn from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), thus rendering hair drug screening a particularly challenging technique to perfect.
Confirmation of any positive screening is undertaken via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and attests to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle embedded beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in many ways in Markham, IL. Its superior detection capability and reliability set it apart.Benefits over traditional urine tests:
Employers in Markham, IL, benefit from the extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing. Unlike other methods, hair testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days.Extended detection window:
Hair follicle testing in Markham, IL, significantly minimizes tampering risks. Its robust methodology provides trustworthy results.Tamper-resistant benefits:
Convenience in accessing hair follicle testing is paramount in Markham, IL. Our network of nationwide and local testing centers simplifies the process.Convenient testing access:
The process for hair follicle testing in Markham, IL, is straightforward and confidential, allaying privacy concerns.Simple, confidential procedure:
Markham, IL businesses experience cost-effective pricing with fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing.Cost-effective pricing:
The rapidity and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Markham, IL make them the preferred choice for detecting substance use. Precision and speed are essential, ensuring high accuracy and reliability.
Utilizing hair follicle testing promotes compliance and peace of mind for Markham, IL employers. It aligns with drug-free workplace policies and enhances safety.Peace of mind through compliance:
