Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair records a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within its growing strands. When collected from the scalp area, hair offers a detection time frame of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and conveniently shippable.
A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal sample amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler's scale. Without scalp hair, a corresponding volume of body hair can be utilized. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary stages in processing a lab drug test result are: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the first processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes checking that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any further data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to rule out drug use in most samples, to admit results in court, confirmation of positive screens is essential. Samples that appear presumptively positive in Screening need subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample appear positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most intricate methodology.
Any positive screening result undergoes Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the procedure evaluates the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing detection methods, hair follicle testing in Garden City, IA, offers superior accuracy over traditional urine tests. Hair testing's key advantage lies in its unmatched detection capability, offering a more comprehensive assessment. This precision ensures a higher reliability rate, proving essential for various applications where certainty is crucial.
Hair follicle testing offers an expanded detection window in Garden City, IA, capturing up to 90 days of drug use history. For employers, this comprehensive overview is invaluable, allowing them to accurately assess a candidate’s or employee’s long-term substance use. This extended period gives deeper insights beyond the limitations of other testing methods.
In Garden City, IA, hair follicle testing presents a tamper-resistant solution to common testing challenges. Its robust method significantly reduces the possibility of sample alteration, thereby ensuring reliable and authentic results. By mitigating risks associated with adulteration, its integrity in result accuracy stands unmatched.
Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation, including Garden City, IA, makes accessing hair follicle drug testing hassle-free. This widespread availability ensures that clients can easily locate and utilize our services efficiently, benefitting from convenient and local support whenever needed.
In Garden City, IA, the process of hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to safeguard privacy and facilitate ease of use. This structured approach ensures that users can trust the process for its discretion and straightforward execution.
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Garden City, IA, deliver exceptional value. With affordability and rapid results, companies of all sizes can benefit without financial strain, enhancing their operational efficiency and ensuring comprehensive drug testing solutions.
In Garden City, IA, the hair follicle drug test stands out for its precision. It provides exceptionally accurate detection of substance use, significantly enhancing the reliability of results. This method's efficiency ensures that results are not only spot-on but also delivered swiftly, making it an attractive option for time-sensitive scenarios where guaranteed accuracy is paramount.
For Garden City, IA employers, hair follicle testing aids in maintaining workplace compliance with drug-free policies, enhancing safety and reducing legal risks. With the reliable assurance it offers, businesses can operate with peace of mind, knowing that their drug testing processes are reinforcing a secure work environment consistently.
