Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When collected from near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advocate weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The process for laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab's system. This involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input absent in a digital chain of custody system.
Screening comprises a preliminary rapid check for substance abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for the bulk of samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in a legal setting. All samples that are provisionally positive during Screening require a subsequent verification.
If a sample tests provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this step, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than seen in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.
Verification of any positive screening outcome is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every provisionally positive sample is cleansed prior to verification if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Crothersville, IN, the advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests are evident. Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy, revealing drug use for up to 90 days.
Hair analysis offers reliability that urine tests can't match. For employers and organizations, this ensures a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history.
Hair follicle testing in Crothersville, IN, extends the detection window of drug use considerably, up to 90 days.
This method allows employers to gain a deeper insight into an individual's long-term drug history, ensuring a safer workplace.
In Crothersville, IN, hair follicle testing presents a tamper-resistant solution to drug screening.
Unlike urine tests, hair samples are difficult to alter, guaranteeing unquestionable results that maintain integrity throughout the detection process.
Conveniently, Crothersville, IN, is served by various nationwide testing centers, making drug testing readily accessible.
This expansive network assures quick, hassle-free access to testing services, benefiting both individuals and employers alike.
In Crothersville, IN, hair follicle testing offers a straightforward and private process.
The steps for ordering, taking tests, and receiving results are seamless and confidential, addressing concerns over user privacy effortlessly.
Crothersville, IN, benefits from competitive pricing and swift turnaround with hair follicle testing.
These cost-effective options ensure companies receive great value and prompt service, facilitating decision-making and policy adherence efficiently.
In Crothersville, IN, hair follicle tests deliver swift, precise outcomes, offering an edge in detecting substance consumption. These tests stand out for their remarkable accuracy, ensuring reliable assessments.
With hair follicle testing, rapid, exact results aid in maintaining safety and compliance. Crothersville residents benefit from these thorough and dependable analyses.
Hair follicle testing in Crothersville, IN, provides compliance and peace of mind for employers, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies.
This method diminishes legal risks and enhances safety, reinforcing employer confidence in their workforce screening processes.
