Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures indicators in its strands, offering a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use over roughly a 3-month duration. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.
A segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of roughly 200 strands (akin to the circumference of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of drug test results involves four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary step of integrating a sample into a lab’s database. This step verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any required data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening offers an initial drug abuse assessment. While economically efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be legally admissible. Samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening need a confirmatory test.
If Screening results indicate presumptive positivity, additional hair is extracted from the sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, marking hair drug screening as one of the most intricate processes.
Confirmation of a positive Screening outcome is executed through methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the laboratory procedure undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Merits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", these assessments examine the hair strand, not the underlying follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Springerton, IL
Extended Detection Window in Springerton, IL
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Springerton, IL
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Springerton, IL
Simple, Confidential Process in Springerton, IL
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Springerton, IL
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Springerton, IL
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Springerton, IL