Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands' fibers as they grow. When harvested right next to the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, optional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent portion of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails initially handling a sample in a laboratory system. This process includes ensuring that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, creating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts an initial swift drug abuse check. While it offers an economical method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening require further confirmation.
Should a sample appear positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing ranks as the most complex method to perform.
Positive screening validations are carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples presumed to be positive undergo washes before Confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite frequently being called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
The superiority of hair testing over urine tests in Hull, IA is clear due to its extended detection timeline, capturing drug use up to 90 days back. This provides a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance habits compared to traditional methods.
Hair testing eliminates the uncertainty associated with urine tests. Its resistance to tampering ensures legitimate results, which adhere to strict testing protocols.
In Hull, IA, hair follicle testing shines with its ability to detect drug use over a longer period, up to 90 days. This feature gives a detailed insight into an individual's substance use history, offering ample data for evaluating employment suitability.
By examining hair samples, employers can identify long-term substance patterns that urine tests may miss. This longer examination window provides more confidence in screening outcomes.
The integrity of hair follicle tests in Hull, IA is enhanced through their resistance to tampering. Unlike other testing methods, the hair test presents formidable barriers to sample manipulation, delivering consistent and unambiguous results.
This level of security in the testing process minimizes risks associated with sample adulteration, maintaining a high standard of reliability for all screenings.
With nationwide testing facilities, including Hull, IA, accessing hair follicle testing is both quick and straightforward. Our extensive network ensures clients have convenient choices for testing locations, which means no hassle when getting tested.
This wide availability helps reduce the logistical burden for individuals seeking reliable drug testing services, offering seamless access wherever required.
The hair testing process in Hull, IA is both simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Initiating a test is straightforward, with disclosures limited to the necessary information only.
Concerns over confidentiality are mitigated through secure processes for ordering and sourcing test results, which provide peace of mind for all involved parties.
Affordable pricing in Hull, IA ensures that our hair follicle testing offers excellent value for businesses of any size. Competitive rates mean organizations can integrate robust testing without straining budgets.
Fast turnaround times further contribute to this value, ensuring efficiency in diagnosing drug use cases while keeping costs in check, ideal for fast-paced environments.
In Hull, IA, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in substance detection. This approach efficiently identifies drug usage, ensuring results are highly accurate and reliable, providing a trustworthy assessment of an individual's drug history.
The rapid processing of hair samples results in quick turnaround times, allowing timely insights for making informed decisions. The accuracy rate is exceptionally high, which further cements its reliability.
Employers in Hull, IA find assurance in using hair follicle testing to adhere to drug-free workplace policies. Implementing these tests helps to reduce legal liabilities and enhance overall safety in the working environment.
This method fosters compliance and ensures a clear demonstration of a company's commitment to maintaining a drug-free zone, benefiting both employers and employees.
